It is with much sadness that we announce the death in June 2017 of Elizabeth Fulton, aged 90. 

Liz started the British Schoolgirls’ Races in 1958 with Soss Roe and they continued to run the together in the Gstaad Valley in Switzerland until 1976, when Fenella Lees took over and moved the event to Villars. 

In 2008, Liz was able to come to the 50th anniversary of the BSR in Flaine. She told the girls how in the early years she and Soss had gone into the woods to chop sticks to use as slalom poles and used cut-up bedsheets, which they dyed in three colours, for the flags! She was very impressed with the standard of skiing and professionalism of the girls in the modern era. 

It was also in 1958 that Liz joined LSC (when the subscription was five shillings!) and immediately became Advertisement Secretary for the Bulletin. Indeed, she was rarely off the Committee during the next twenty years, serving at least two terms as Editor of the Bulletin and in 2005, she was made an Honorary Life Member. 

Liz had been born in India and came to England, to school, at the age of seven. She was naturally good at sport and played at Junior Wimbledon, but after school Liz’ mother insisted that she went to domestic science school. This rather annoyed Liz, who would far rather have gone straight into the Wrens; however, she did join them in October 1944.  

After basic training at Mill Hill, Liz wanted to go to the sea and do boats’ crew, but this was very popular and instead she was sent to Bletchley Park. Initially she was accommodated at Wavendon in the stables, where she shared a room with 20-30 others, all on different shifts – not ideal for sleeping, as she said, especially when you were on night duty. After a short time Liz’s billet was moved to Woburn, sleeping in the servant’s quarters, four to a room in two double bunks – cabins in naval terms. She enjoyed her time here though apparently the old Duke was a bit sour if any of them crossed his path, because the drivers had killed a few of his deer. The work at Bletchley she remembered as consisting almost entirely of adding up about 50 double digit numbers, which were typed on long bits of paper, and then handing them back for checking – not highly interesting, as she said. She knew nothing about what happened to her work – they were told not to talk about anything to do with their work and they didn’t. She stayed at Bletchley until after the German surrender in May 1945, when she went to London and learned to drive on buses. 

Her next posting was to Bath, driving people from admirals to the local postman. ‘Bath is hilly and one was always trying to start the vehicle on a hill, especially on the post round but we did get some good cars too.’ Finally, she was sent to Plymouth, so she did see the sea in the end. Demobbed in 1947, she did a secretarial course before returning home and helping out on her parents’ small farm at Prestwood in Buckinghamshire and looking after mother, who was unwell. 

When Liz had signed the Official Secrets Act, she thought it would be for 25 years, but it was actually just short of 30 years. When the Bletchley Park story emerged in the 1970’s she felt sad that her parents had never known what she had been doing, but she is now commemorated on the Codebreakers Wall at Bletchley Park. 

She said that her life after that consisted of tennis coaching in the summer and taking ski parties in the winter. This statement is characteristics of Liz’s modesty – she actually organised ski parties for children for nearly 20 years, as well as for adults too. One article in the Bulletin refers to ‘Cradle to the Grave’ ski parties organised by Liz, and there is an entertaining account of a heli-ski trip to Vidamanette in 1959 when Liz was in the advance party, which climbed up on skins! 

In later years, Liz helped at Waddesdon Manor, her local National Trust and Rothschild house and estate. She was given recognition by the Royal British Legion for her poppy selling; she worked for the Citizens Advice Bureau and she was involved with the Elizabeth Finn team (formerly Distressed Gentlefolks). She tackled the world of computers (though needed to be sorted out at intervals, apparently). She gardened and was involved in all aspects of local life, as well as matters further afield. She was interested in everything, and clearly made the most of her life. She had a strong faith and was quietly active, helping, visiting and supporting others.

Written by:

Maud Instone (LSC Committee Member) 

We are very grateful to the LSC for allowing us print this obituary. Rosanne Adam, a former LSC President, was able to represent the Club at Liz’s funeral and Maud is indebted to Rosanne for providing much of the information above. Rosanne tracked down the Bletchley Park oral history and transcribed it for the obituary.