Gordon Fowler

Gordon Fowler was educated at Queen Elizabeth’s Grammar School, Kingston-upon-Thames, but left school at 16 and embarked on an adventure that took him around the globe. He first went to New Zealand, where he worked on a sheep ranch, and then went to Canada where he was a lumberman, cowboy, policeman, and herdsman. His next adventure took him to West and Central Africa. He then decided to return to England and took various teaching posts at preparatory schools around the country. Fowler then went into the industrial sector as one of the research staff at Cortaulds, one of Britain’s biggest textile manufacturers. He then settled in East Anglia where he worked for the British Sugar Corporation at Ely. During his time there, he entered public life as an Ely County Councillor and an Urban District Councillor.

During World War I, Fowler served with the Royal Artillery and saw service in France and Italy. He was subsequently wounded, mentioned in dispatches, and then retired as unfit for service, having attained the rank of major. A keen all-round sportsman, his passion for sailing saw him dedicate himself to racing small boats, and for nearly 40 years he was captain of the dinghy class at the Seaview Yacht Club on the Isle of Wight.

Fowler was also a very high standard hockey player. As a full-back he won county honours with both Surrey and Cornwall and played for the Western Counties in international trials. He served on the England international hockey selection committee, and was a former member of the British Motorboat Club. Later in life he was a keen archaeologist, and did a lot of work in the East Anglian Fens.