Plaque marks Batten’s grave

Press, 18 November 1989, Page 11

Plaque marks Batten’s grave

By

NEIL CLARKSON

A commemmbrative plaque was unveiled last evening marking the paupers’ grave in Majorca where the body of the famous New Zealand solo flyer, Jean Batten, was buried nearly seven years ago. The plaque, unveiled by the Minister of Women’sAffairs, Mrs Shields, marks a 10m by 3m grave in the municipal cemetery in Palma, where Miss Batten is buried with about 40 paupers.

Miss Batten died of natural causes in her Palma flat in November, 1982. Authorities found her New Zealand passport , at the time but an administrative bungle resulted in officials failing to notify her relatives, or New Zealand authorities. • . Her body lay unclaimed in a mortuary for two months before a judge ordered her burial. About 11 a.m. on January 22, a priest conducted a coffinless burial. Relatives did not learn of her death until 1987, The Spanish Consul in New Zealand, Mr Bartholomew Porta, said he had worked since November, 1987, to get the plaque to mark the grave, known as Fosa Comun No. 7. “I did it for New Zealand,” said Mr Porta, who lives in Christchurch. “I am very proud to help.” Mr Porta, who settled here 16 years ago, said the plaque was sponsored by a Spanish aircraft manufacturer, Casa. He said he understood the unveiling was to be covered by Spanish television. Mr Porta said he was in Spain recently but regretted being unable to stay long enough for the ceremony.