We recently received a letter from Mr William Boulton (History, French and Latin BA, 1952) which although sadly informed us of his wife’s passing, also included details of their life together and their affiliation with Queen Mary College (as Queen Mary was formerly known). We couldn't resist sharing their beautiful love story.
William and Pamela Boulton (Mathematics BSc, 1945), formerly Pamela Ewen, did not meet at Queen Mary College; during the Second World War, Pamela was evacuated to King’s College Cambridge and William had to complete his military service. The chairman of the Old Students’ Association used to invite people to her large house in Leytonstone and it was here that William met Pamela in her role as Assistant Secretary, in charge of subscriptions. William was instantly smitten and knew Pamela was the one for him, despite this not originally being the case for Pamela!*
Post-war, Pamela moved back to London and her graduation ceremony was held in Senate House. At the time, there were so many graduates and only those who had obtained first class degrees were hooded (a special recognition ritual) by the Chancellor of the University who happened to be Princess Elizabeth (now Queen Elizabeth). Pamela had received a first-class degree result and got to meet Princess Elizabeth which was very momentous. In terms of her career, Pamela started as a teacher at Burlington School in West London, and then progressed to university lecturing and was promoted to Senior Lecturer at South-East London Technical College throughout her lifetime, while William had a 25+ year career in insurance and taught on the side. They married in 1955 and had two daughters and William, now aged 93, is a great grandfather!
*Pamela was put off by William’s moustache which he thought gave him authority and made him look older. He removed it right away!
14/09/21
Dear Sirs, or should I say Madames? Thank you for the latest Queen Mary update. I particularly liked the picture of the Queens’ Building because I had the pleasure to be present at its inauguration by the Queen Mother. I was included in my late wife’s invitation as she was then an officer of the Old Students’ Association. I was near enough to the Queen Mother to see how rotten her teeth were. Could it have been all those G&Ts that she quaffed? You will note that I refer to my late wife, as Pamela died on 24/02/17 so please delete her name from the list of alumnae. How I miss her! We did not meet at Queen Mary College: she was evacuated to King’s College Cambridge and I had to complete my military service. The chairman of the Old Students’ Association used to hold ‘at homes’ at her large house in Leytonstone and as soon as I saw Pam I was smitten, although she wasn’t. For one thing, I had a moustache as a hangover from my Army days so that had to come off. Yours faithfully William A Boulton