Sporting icon unveils plaque dedicated to Sporting Pioneer
The blue plaque was unveiled at the former Dartford College of Physical Education, through which passed hundreds of young ladies until its closure as a Sports College in 1986. The College was the birthplace of netball as a recognised sport and the teaching methods developed at the College are seen daily in schools across the country to this day.
Madame Osterberg worked tirelessly to change the attitudes surrounding women and physical activity and trained young ladies as physical educational teachers to spread her message throughout the UK and the world.
Female sporting icon Rachael Heyhoe Flint MBE DL, a former Dartford student, is the ideal person to unveil the plaque. Rachael, who led England to victory in the first ever Women's Cricket World Cup in 1973, has continued the momentum for women's sport started by Mme Osterberg, most notably as the first female cricket captain to play at Lords, the first female presenter for ITV's World of Sport and, most recently, first female Committee Member of the MCC.
Councillor Mrs Patsy Thurlow, Portfolio Holder for Heritage, is determined to raise the profile of Dartford's hidden history.
“Dartford's history is full of people and companies that have achieved greatness and I want to make sure that they are recognised and honoured. Madame Osterberg's great strides for sport and women can be compared with the inventions of Richard Trevithick, the industrial exploits of John Hall and the entertainment prowess of Mick Jagger," she said. For more information about netball in the County please visit Kent Netball |
One
of the country's most important sporting pioneers was honoured and recognised
as the Dartford Borough Council takes steps to raise the profile of local
heritage. A Blue Plaque, the first in a series across the borough, was
unveiled by Rachael Heyhoe Flint MBE DL on Saturday 5 February recognising
Madame Bergman Osterberg (1849-1915) for her ground-breaking influence
in women's physical education.