Clifford Boulton

Sir Clifford John Boulton, (25 July 1930 – 25 December 2015) was a senior official in the Parliament of the United Kingdom. From 1987 to 1994, he was the Clerk of the House of Commons.

Born in Staffordshire, Boulton was educated at Newcastle-under-Lyme High School. He then did National Service for two years in the British Army and fought in the Korean War as a tank commander. Having returning to civilian life, he studied modern history at the University of Oxford.

In 1953, Boulton joined the Clerk's Department of the House of Commons as an assistant clerk. He was later clerk of the Procedure Select Committee, clerk of the Commons Select Committee of Privileges and clerk of the Overseas Office of the House of Commons. He joined the senior ranks of the Clerk's Department as Principal Clerk of the Table Office (1979–1982), and Clerk Assistant of the House of Commons (1983–1987). Finally, he was appointed Clerk of the House of Commons. His entire career between university and retirement was spent working as one of the clerks of the House of Commons.

Early life and education Boulton was born on 25 July 1930 in Cocknage, Staffordshire, England. He was the son of Stanley Boulton and Evelyn Boulton (née Hey), and grew up on the family farm. He was educated at Newcastle-under-Lyme High School, a private school in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. He was promoted to lieutenant on 29 November 1953. He was transferred to the Territorial Army Reserve of Officers on 16 November 1954; this meant he was no longer in the active reserve nor liable for being called up to fight abroad. On 1 April 1967, he resigned his commission thereby ending his time serving in the military.

Parliamentary career Having graduated from university in 1953, Boulton joined the clerk's department of the House of Commons as an assistant clerk. The Clerk Assistant is the second most senior clerk in the House of Commons. On 2 September 1987, he was appointed Clerk of the House of Commons, succeeding Sir Kenneth Bradshaw. He retired in 1994, a year early, and was succeeded by Donald Limon.

Boulton was a fan of soap operas; his favourite was Coronation Street. In the 1994 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB). On 15 September 1997, he was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) of the County of Rutland by its Lord Lieutenant.