Born: 18 November 1921, Grenada
Died: 6 April 2013
Country most active: Grenada
Also known as: Hilda Gibbs
Dame Hilda Louisa Bynoe was a distinguished and pioneering Caribbean woman whose multifaceted contributions significantly impacted the region’s development. Her illustrious career spanned education, medicine, and government, marking her as a trailblazer and a symbol of dedication to public service.
Beginning her journey during the uncertainties of the Second World War, Dame Bynoe pursued her childhood dream of studying medicine. Awarded a Colonial Development and Welfare Scholarship in 1944, she ventured to Britain, where she realized her aspirations. In her second year of medical school, she married Peter Bynoe, a Royal Air Force officer and architecture student. Returning to the West Indies in 1953, she served as a general practitioner in Trinidad and Guyana before being appointed Governor of the Associated States of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique in 1968—a historic feat that made her the first female Governor in the British Commonwealth.
Dame Bynoe’s influence extended to academia, where she played a pivotal role in developing the School of Arts and Sciences at St George’s University in Grenada, initially established as a medical school. Recognized for her commitment to primary healthcare, she was one of the few female general practitioners in the Caribbean. In Guyana, she earned the moniker ‘Lady Health Officer’ for her efforts in providing healthcare to pregnant women in rural areas.
Her accolades included being appointed a Dame Commander of the British Empire by Queen Elizabeth II in 1969. Dame Bynoe carried out her gubernatorial duties until 1974 when she returned to Trinidad to resume her medical practice and community service.
Hilda Bynoe’s impact reached beyond her professional achievements; she emphasized the importance of education, having grown up in a family of educators. Her dedication to fostering education continued as she taught at St. Joseph’s Convent in San Fernando, Trinidad, and later returned to Grenada to teach physics at her alma mater.
Dame Hilda Bynoe passed away on April 6, 2013, at the age of 91. Her legacy endures as an inspiration to future generations, exemplifying the possibilities that arise from perseverance, education, and a steadfast commitment to shaping a better world.