Beta Sokia was a maid like no other at Government House from 1918 to the 1960s as she was considered a treasure to all governors she had served under.
Beta, as she was commonly known at Government House, served eight Governors during her employment at the notable residence.
It was no surprise when Governor Sir Derek and Lady Jakeway decided to be part of Beta’s daughter’s wedding in 1965.
According to an article in The Fiji Times on Saturday, December 4, 1965, Sir Derek and Lady Jakeway had an interest in the coming marriage and had given permission for the reception to take place in a part of the Government House grounds.
A marquee was to be erected to accommodate about 100 guests and it would be floodlit for the occasion.
Beta had met many interesting and well-known personalities throughout the years, and was remembered with interest and affection not only by great people in Fiji but also by a large number of people all over the world.
Beta began working at Government House in 1918, when as a very young girl she arrived to take up a position as nursemaid for Sir Cecil and Lady Rodwell’s five children.
Since then she had served under eight governors and their ladies. Beta had clear memories of when the first Government House was burned down in March, 1921 and the commotion the event caused.
The article reported that during the fire she had assisted in getting her five young charges to safety, then set about herself, rescuing all of Lady Rodwell’s jewellery and dresses.
As the fire occurred shortly after the visit of the Prince of Wales to Suva there were some very expensive items in the rescued wardrobe.
This newspaper reported that Beta herself lost all her own clothes in the fire, but these were replaced through the gratitude and kindness of Sir Cecil and Lady Rodwell.
So fond of Beta were Sir Cecil and his wife they took with them twice to England on leave, and then to British Guiana when Sir Cecil was appointed there in 1924.
Beta remained with Sir Cecil and Lady Rodwell until 1928 when she returned to her homeland again to work at Government House, this time as lady’s maid for Lady Hudson.
During the following 10 years she continued at Government House seeing service with Lady Fletcher and Lady Richards before following an urge to return to her birthplace, Kadavu in 1938. She remained on Kadavu until 1945.
According to the article she returned to Government House to serve Lady Grantham as a lady’s maid, and served in that capacity for a long time. During the course of her ‘career’ she had travelled to many outlying parts of Fiji and she accompanied the Governor and his wife when they visited Tonga last year.
Known to be considered by Lady Jakeway as “a treasure”, Beta counts among her duties all flower arrangements in Government House.
Her flair for floral art was obvious and her table decorations frequently commented upon by guests. Beta adopted a little girl. Asked why she did this, her gentle old eyes smiled and she said “I wanted someone to be company to me, and to look after me and be kind to me when I get very old. It is not nice to be alone when you are old.”
It is this same ‘daughter’ who is to be married with her reception held at Government House.
Beta’s whole face lights up with gladness when speaking about the occasion last year (1964) when Sir Derek and Lady Jakeway’s three sons were with their parents on vacation from school and university.
“Oh the noise!” she laughed “and the mischief, and the fun! The whole house was happy,” she said.
Lady Jakeway assisted Beta with preparations for the wedding.
It was Lady Jakeway who had insisted on buying for the faithful attendant a new outfit to wear at the function at which, to Beta’s excitement, both she and Sir Derek were to be present.
