Ascension : Press Release - Acting Governor Honours Dr Petrina Williams
Submitted by The Islander (Public Relations Information Office) 02.09.2010 (Article Archived on 16.09.2010)

On Monday, 23 August 2010, the Acting Governor, Mr Andrew Wells and Mrs Wells hosted afternoon tea at Plantation House, in honour of Dr Petrina Williams, St Helena’s first known female doctor.

On Monday, 23 August 2010, the Acting Governor, Mr Andrew Wells and Mrs Wells hosted afternoon tea at Plantation House, in honour of Dr Petrina Williams, St Helena’s first known female doctor.

Invited guests included proud parents Joyce and Raymond (Rusty) Williams, a number of Petrina’s close family, friends and ex-classmates, officials, and a small group of year 12 Prince Andrew School students.

In welcoming those present His Excellency spoke of the medical disciplines that Petrina needed to study and the challenges she had to overcome in order to excel to such an impressive achievement. His Excellency said that “whilst St Helena is rightly proud of its educational standards and achievements, we simply do not yet have the resources to provide many opportunities like Petrina’s.  To the best of my knowledge, she is the first St Helenian lady to qualify as a Doctor in this way.  And whilst she and we must be grateful to the help she has had both from DfID and the FCO (in the form of a Chevening scholarship) and the assistance and encouragement from teachers, colleagues, friends and family on island and elsewhere, the bulk of the credit must certainly go to her”.  He spoke of the satisfaction Petrina will experience in being able to make a real and positive difference to the lives of St Helenians when she returns in three years time perhaps to work at the General hospital here on the island.

His Excellency ended his speech by saying “Whatever the future may have in store for you, Doctor Williams, I am sure that all of us here, like me, feel privileged to be able to celebrate your success.  You should be proud of your achievements, which prove yet again what can be done by young people of this Island with talent, determination and sheer hard work”.

His Excellency then invited all present to join in a round of applause to congratulate Dr Petrina Williams, following which he presented her with a gift and extended best wishes to her for the future. 

Dr Petrina responded by thanking His Excellency and Mrs Wells for hosting such a function in her honour and to all the guests for their well wishes. 

Public Relations/Information Office

Office of the Chief Secretary

25 August 2010