Active Teacher, Secretary, Musician —and She’s Ninety!

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 52, 11 February 1949, Page 6

Active Teacher, Secretary, Musician —and She’s Ninety!

To be teaching children and carrying on the work of honorary secretary of the Secondary Schools Music Festival committee at the age of 90 is something of a record. The distinction belongs to Mrs May Boult, Auckland’s “grand old lady” of music and mother of Miss Phyllis Boult, principal of Hilltop School. Mrs Boult celebrated her 90th birthday on Tuesday.' Like a box full of treasures, Mrs Boult’s long life itself is packed with distinction. Here are some of the celebrated names, notable associations and unusual experiences which have made her life a sparkling one: Her grandfather, Colonel Gawler, was first Governor of the first constitutional Government of South Australia. She is a connection through'marriage of ,the famous English conductor, Sir Adrian Boult. As a girl she lived for a few months in the Tower of London. Her uncle wfas keeper of the Crown-

Jewels. She also stayed at Westminster with another uncle who was the Dean there. During her education in Berlin she heard such famous musicians as Madame Schumann. Joachim and she played duets with Mendelssohn’s nephews. Celebrating her 21st birthday in India, she and a companion were entertained by the 16-year-old Rajah of Dolhpur, near Agra, and his mother. Mrs Boult does not boast of these things. But she is deeply conscious of her most interesting life—and she is grateful.