Miss New Brighton contestant Betty Lawson reminisces 51 years after becoming the first black woman to win a heat of the beauty contest

Sep 9 2009 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

SHE made social history at Miss New Brighton in the 1950s – and this is how she looks 51 years on!

Last month Memories printed a photo of Betty Lawson winning heat four of the 1958 beauty contest.

Lily Williams, of Pensby, got in touch to tell us she fostered Betty when she was a 15-year-old schoolgirl.

Mrs Williams said the teenager worked at Cadbury’s and went on to train as a nurse before moving to the USA.

And this week we heard from Betty herself – now known as Elizabeth Drake.

She said: “What an unexpected surprise to hear of the interest in my life 50 years ago.

“I often go back and visit England and I still have a brother who lives in Wallasey.

“It saddened me to find that New Brighton Swimming Pool was destroyed several years ago.

“It was part and parcel of New Brighton history and a major part of my life – all those wonderful childhood memories.”

In 2007 Elizabeth was included in Ray Costello’s book, Liverpool’s Black Pioneers, something she describes as a “distinct honour”.

Her brother Jim also contacted us to say: “Betty got married in the early 1960s to an American serviceman who was based at Burtonwood, then went over to America to live.

“Betty lives in San Antonio, Texas.”

Memories is continuing its focus on the Miss New Brighton competition with this photo from the 1950s.

Many famous people stepped in to act as judges for the contest – but the identity of this man is still a mystery.

He was a judge from heat three in 1957 – but can you tell us anything about him?

Send any Miss New Brighton memories to: Memories, Wirral News, PO Box 48, Old Hall Street, Liverpool L69 3EB or e-mail lorna.hughes@liverpool.com

All photos in Memories were taken by Wirral press photographer Bob Bird. His books and pictures are available from Carla Bird on 639 6851.