A remarkable story of love and adventure emerged from the Amazon River in 1951, when a Glasgow botanist, Blodwen Lloyd, was almost left behind by a passenger cargo liner. After a dockers’ strike delayed the departure of the Hilary, the vessel’s captain, James Binns, launched a search to find her, leading to an unexpected romance that blossomed onboard.
Captain Binns, who had previously been awarded the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for his bravery during World War II, was concerned when he could not locate Lloyd before the ship was ready to set sail. Historian Elizabeth Allen recounted this charming tale at the Scottish Maritime History conference, noting that Lloyd’s “natural charm successfully smoothed troubled waters.” The couple married just a year later, following Binns’ retirement.
Binns had led the crew of the Booth Line merchant ship Fort La Maune to safety after it was sunk by a U-boat off the coast of Yemen in 1944. After their marriage, the couple settled in Glasgow, where they lived together for a decade until Binns’ death in 1962. He passed away shortly after Lloyd retired from her teaching position at the Royal Technical College in Glasgow, now known as the University of Strathclyde, where she had taught botany and bacteriology for 36 years.
Following her husband’s passing, Lloyd decided to return to work at the age of 63. She accepted a position as a professor of botany at the University of Limbe in Malawi, where she dedicated seven years to her research. During her time in Africa, she created a comprehensive dictionary of the country’s plants and established a national herbarium, all while enduring a heart attack in the jungle.
Lloyd retired once more at the age of 70 but continued her contributions to botany. She worked on the Scouler Herbarium Collection at the University of Strathclyde and authored a botanical dictionary in Welsh. Her life came to an end in 1991, when she was 89 years old.
Allen highlighted how Lloyd’s Amazon adventure began with a simple newspaper advertisement that piqued her interest. The trip offered a chance for exploration, and it turned into a journey where love flourished. Allen remarked, “The romance between James, an experienced master, and Blodwen, a talented botanist traveling ‘for fun’ when she saw the advert, was one which developed late in life but gave happiness to both.”
The Hilary, the largest ship in the Booth Line fleet, was constructed for its main route between Liverpool and Manaus in Brazil. Navigating the Amazon River posed significant challenges due to its vast size, fluctuating water levels, and complex channels filled with silt and debris. Allen described the Amazon as “both wide and long but difficult to navigate,” emphasizing the unique experiences that awaited passengers like Lloyd.
This heartfelt tale serves as a reminder of the unexpected connections that can arise during life’s journeys, illustrating how adventure can lead to love and lasting impact.
