Sonja Chan (’71), Joyce Cheung (’99)

To all living generations of Ying Wa alumni, Ms Betty Barr, our beloved teacher, aged 91, is a legend. Born in Shanghai, she studied in Shanghai, the UK and the USA. She taught English, Bible Studies and Music at Ying Wa from 1959 to 1972. She later returned to her birthplace, Shanghai, to teach English and married Mr George Wang there. These experiences have contributed to a life rich in colour and history.˂/p>

Before Christmas 2024, we had the opportunity to interview Ms Barr on Zoom. She is so friendly, witty and warm. We were eager to listen to her wonderful life story, filled with fond memories of Ying Wa, and her heartfelt message for our alumni.

A Legacy Rooted in Shanghai

Ms Barr’s connection to Shanghai runs deep. Her father, Mr John Barr, a missionary, arrived in Shanghai from Scotland in 1924. He was a member of the London Missionary Society that also founded our school. He worked in a high school similar to Ying Wa for two decades. Her mother came from Dallas, USA, with the YWCA. She was interested in Chinese culture; she loved to read Confucius in English and enjoyed watching Peking Opera. It was in Shanghai that these two individuals met and married.

Fond Memories at Ying Wa

One of Ms Barr’s significant contributions to Ying Wa was the introduction of the Sponsored Walk in the 1960s. At that time, this was a novel concept that she had encountered in Britain. Inspired by its success in various churches there, she proposed the idea to Miss Jenkins, our Headmistress at the time. To this day, the Sponsored Walk still remains a cherished part of our Thanksgiving tradition. With her gentle manners, iconic big smile and encouraging approach in her teaching, Ms Barr soon became a very effective teacher, who was popular both in and out of the classroom. She has earned a warm spot in the hearts of many of us whom she taught.

A Journey Back to Her Roots

In 1972, as China began to open up again, Ms Barr decided to leave Ying Wa and return to her birthplace to teach English. She remembers vividly about ten young teachers riding with her on the train to the last stop before the border, where they had to get off. Ms Barr stayed on the train and later walked alone across the border on the narrow wooden bridge at Lo Wu. This moment was definitely both unforgettable and thrilling, marking not only the return to her roots, but also, later, the start of a beautiful romance. “Shanghai Boy, Shanghai Girl”, the autobiography co-authored by Ms Barr and her husband, Mr George Wang, is testimony to their love story. Ms Barr and Mr Wang are now living happily in Orchid Mansion, a residence for the elderly in Shanghai, a city she considers her true home.

Enduring Connections spanning 66 years

Ms Barr maintains close ties with many former colleagues like the Rev C C Lee in Hong Kong, Ms Margaret Moore in New Zealand, Ms Daphne Hughes and Ms Margaret Thomas in the UK, Mrs Joan Kennedy in Australia, and Ms Winnie Yau in Toronto who recently passed away on 27 December 2024. She shared that she has become good friends with the next generation as well. For instance, she often has lunch with Ms Yau's elder son, Raymond, who also lives in Shanghai. Ms Kwan Yeuk Laan, who passed away in 2022, used to keep in touch with her well into her late 90s. Sonja (one of the writers of this article), Ms Kwan’s daughter, says that she has been keeping in touch with Ms Barr over all these years like a friend, and it gives her such a warm feeling. Ms Barr’s former students have visited her in Shanghai. She was invited by our school to attend Ying Wa’s 100th, 105th, 110th and 115th Anniversary celebrations, the 50th Anniversary of the Ordination of the Rev C C Lee in 2016 and the Open Prayer Meeting at the new school campus in 2019. Our bond with Ms Barr across the miles is indeed most amazing.

A Message for the Future

As Ying Wa celebrates its 125th Anniversary in 2025, our Principal Mr Francis Kwan extended his warm invitation to Ms Barr to attend. Ms Barr unfortunately was unable to accept as she seldom travels now. We asked Ms Barr if she had any messages for us. She shared a motto given to her by her father before he passed away: "Work quietly". She reflected on how Miss Silcocks embodied this principle as well, and she believes it is even more relevant today than in her father’s time. In a world filled with noise and constant demands, in particular from the social media, Ms Barr emphasized the value of quiet diligence.

“I think that working quietly can be a good thing wherever you are. That’s really my message,” she concluded.

Thank you so much, Ms Barr.