KEY PEOPLE 15: Mrs Margaret Mary Maitland Fowler, O.B.E. (1881 - 19??)
Mrs M. M. M. Fowler OBE
Mrs Fowler, legendary owner of Leamington’s pre-war Blue Café, was born in Derbyshire and grew up in Polesworth, where her father was Vicar of the Parish Church, and Rural Dean. In 1906, at the age of 25, she married George Herbert Fowler, an Oxford-educated mining engineer who was managing director of Arley Colliery in nearby Nuneaton.
They lived at Hall End, Tamworth. Mrs Fowler was already well-known locally for her Red Cross work, and Mr Fowler for his work in the parish where he served as churchwarden for several years. He was also in the Volunteer Reserve (the 8th Sherwoods, formerly the 4th Notts Volunteers), where he was known for his kindness and consideration towards his men. Gazetted Major in 1912, he enlisted at the outbreak of war in 1914. Lt-Col. Fowler was killed by sniper fire on 15th October 1915, out searching for a wounded comrade, thought to be lying close to enemy lines. A public subscription raised funds for a commemorative stained glass window at St Leonard’s Church and the Tamworth Herald reported that Mrs Fowler had received a letter of “high appreciation of the late Col. Fowler’s gallant services” from the King.
When her husband enlisted, Mrs Fowler visited schools with Red Cross nurses, teaching first aid. She became Commandant of the Weddington Hall [VAD] Hospital, Nuneaton, where she made a name for herself for her dedication and endless kindness to the disabled and wounded servicemen sent there for treatment and recuperation, – witnessed by her autograph album dated June 1916, with its photographs, notes, drawings and messages of thanks in both French and English.
She organised concert parties, motor car outings, musical evenings, and light recreational sports for those who could manage it, working tirelessly to give the men the emotional as well as the physical support they needed, to help them return to a more normal way of life.
At the end of the war, with no family of her own, Mrs Fowler, now appointed O.B.E, moved away to Leamington, first to Binswood Avenue, and later, to 21 Newbold Terrace. She continued her charity work, organising with others, The Alexandra Musical Society in aid of disabled ex-servicemen, and fund-raising for nurses and other societies.
They lived at Hall End, Tamworth. Mrs Fowler was already well-known locally for her Red Cross work, and Mr Fowler for his work in the parish where he served as churchwarden for several years. He was also in the Volunteer Reserve (the 8th Sherwoods, formerly the 4th Notts Volunteers), where he was known for his kindness and consideration towards his men. Gazetted Major in 1912, he enlisted at the outbreak of war in 1914. Lt-Col. Fowler was killed by sniper fire on 15th October 1915, out searching for a wounded comrade, thought to be lying close to enemy lines. A public subscription raised funds for a commemorative stained glass window at St Leonard’s Church and the Tamworth Herald reported that Mrs Fowler had received a letter of “high appreciation of the late Col. Fowler’s gallant services” from the King.
When her husband enlisted, Mrs Fowler visited schools with Red Cross nurses, teaching first aid. She became Commandant of the Weddington Hall [VAD] Hospital, Nuneaton, where she made a name for herself for her dedication and endless kindness to the disabled and wounded servicemen sent there for treatment and recuperation, – witnessed by her autograph album dated June 1916, with its photographs, notes, drawings and messages of thanks in both French and English.
She organised concert parties, motor car outings, musical evenings, and light recreational sports for those who could manage it, working tirelessly to give the men the emotional as well as the physical support they needed, to help them return to a more normal way of life.
At the end of the war, with no family of her own, Mrs Fowler, now appointed O.B.E, moved away to Leamington, first to Binswood Avenue, and later, to 21 Newbold Terrace. She continued her charity work, organising with others, The Alexandra Musical Society in aid of disabled ex-servicemen, and fund-raising for nurses and other societies.
Text courtesy of Peter Lee (c) 2016 Nuneaton History Society, www.nuneatonhistory.com
Images courtesy of Mr P. Chater, Nuneaton History Society, www.nuneatonhistory.com
Images courtesy of Mr P. Chater, Nuneaton History Society, www.nuneatonhistory.com