This Valentines we are remembering one of the many love stories that have begun at Queen Mary.
The story of Hilda Mary Smith (1902-2005) and Philip Henry Wood (1904-1970), is just one example that is recorded in the Archives.
Hilda Smith was educated in North London and Philip Wood in East Ham. They were awarded scholarships to attend East London College in 1921 to study physics. The physicists worked in a laboratory in the basement of the Queen’s Building which they called ‘the dungeon’. Hilda was one of two women to study physics between 1921 and 1924. 5 of the students went to the same school as Philip and they became lifelong friends. For entertainment they attended dances and ‘sing alongs’ and played sport. Hilda was in the Netball Team, and Peter in the Badminton Club, pictured left. In 1924 Hilda achieved a 2nd class honours degree and Philip a 3rd class.
After university, Hilda taught at a secretarial college and Philip worked as a supply teacher before joining the Royal Air Force in 1928, where he taught until 1964. They were married in 1928 and had three children. They never lost their love of physics and taught their first child to recite ‘Ohm’s Law’ as soon as she could speak. They always recalled their time at East London College fondly, not least because they found each other there.
To find out more about sources on the history of the College, see Guide to Archives.