In loving memory of the late Ronald '' Ron '' Bowler who sadly passed away on 10th March 2015.
Ron had just returned from a wonderful family holiday with his daughter Anne-Marie, her girls Holly and Darcy and Maureen's daughter Kerry-Anne. The holiday was to celebrate Holly's 18th Birthday and to visit Kerry-Anne who is currently at University in the USA.
Ron was born in Dunfermline, Fife in June 1943 to parents Bill & Doris. The happy family unit was completed 2 years later when his sister Eleanor arrived. Ron & Eleanor and their two families remained very close throughout his life, coming together for lots of special occasions and holidays.
Ron joined the police in Scotland when he left school but, having seen a bit of the world when the family had lived in Singapore, he decided to join the RAF. Posted to Aldergrove in Northern Ireland he met Josie Taggart and they fell in love. He was later posted to Kenya and when he was asked to stay there for 2 years he wrote to Josie asking her to come out to Nairobi and they were then married on 3rd December 1964. Patricia was born in Nairobi hospital in October 1965 and Ron always spoke fondly of their time in Kenya. They returned first to Ireland and then to Dunfermline where they lived with Bill and Doris, later getting their own place. Believing the streets of London were paved with gold Ron was going to join the Metropolitan police but by chance the City of London police were on a nationwide recruitment campaign and he easily met their selection criteria as he was 6ft 2"! Having been signed up, the family moved down to London and lived in West Norwood where Maureen was born in December 1967. They moved to Houston Road in Forest Hill a few years later where they lived happily for over 30 years. In March 1972 Anne-Marie was born and the family were complete; despite having boy's names picked for each girl Ron lived a great life surrounded by his girls! The years passed happily with lots of wonderful family memories, holidays in Ireland and Scotland and at Pontin's holiday camps!
As a young man Ron was a great sportsman, playing all types of sport and he was particularly good at swimming. He was offered a place as a goalie at Dunfermline Athletic when the late great Jock Stein was manager but he decided against it as footballers didn't earn enough money! As the years passed he spent many happy hours watching sport and going to football matches (following Tottenham in the '80s and '90s) race days, athletics, cricket and Grand Prix. Ron would often tell you he had been up all night watching sport of some description! He would have been your 'phone a friend' for many subjects but definitely sports questions and he came first in the sports quiz at Pontins on more than one occasion!
He loved his job, rising to the rank of Detective Inspector; as with all things in his life Ron gave 110% and he was very well respected. A letter the family received following his death talked of a "first class Detective," he made so many good friends and shared many stories of his time in The City. The City was also where he met his friend "Yorkie" Michael Jacques and they enjoyed a great friendship that lasted for many years.
In 1995 Ron's first grandchild, Kerry-Anne, was born; she was very ill but he hardly left her side, watching over her until she was well enough to come home. Ron worked for a year after Kerry-Anne was born but he had been diagnosed with diabetes and made the decision to retire after 28 years' service. He took on a new role of "super grandad' in 1997 with the arrival of Holly in March and Ryan in October (finally a boy!). The next few years saw many happy times in Ron & Josie's fun crèche at Houston Road, Grandchildren were guaranteed to have a good time and the sign on the wall said "if I knew Grandchildren were this much fun I would have had them first." 2001 saw the arrival of Darcy, born in June and then Grace joined the family in September 2003.
In 2002 Ron & Josie sold the house at Forest Hill, returning to rebuild Josie's family home in Tyrone but they kept their chalet at Allhallows in Kent so they could travel back and forward, keeping in close contact with the family. Sadly Josie passed away in April 2003 after 38 years of happy marriage. Ron, who loved Ireland, did not want to sell the house so continued to commute between Tattymulmona and Allhallows and all his Grandchildren loved going to the house in Ireland. His grandchildren kept him going, especially with the arrival of Grace in September 2003, they gave him a reason to continue following his loss and he enjoyed life as he watched them grow into lovely young adults.
Ron's love of sport extended to Gaelic football and he followed Josie's team, Tyrone. She had never seen them win an all Ireland final but the year she died Tyrone reached the final. Having made sure Grace had arrived safe and well, Ron travelled to Croke Park with his son-in-law Vince, his brother-in-law Mickey and many of Josie's family. They watched Tyrone beat Armagh and bring home the Sam Maguire cup. The party lasted a long time in Tyrone, the celebrations went on in every town and village and an emotional Ron, Vince and Mickey took a Tyrone flag from the game and placed it on Josie's grave.
Ron must have lost count of the school runs he did, he was a well known figure in the playground of all his Grandchildren's schools; he also attended many school plays, nativities, choir recitals, ballet shows, dance shows and football matches!
He will leave a very large gap in all our lives and will be sorely missed; rest in peace Ron Bowler, reunited with your lovely Josie xxx
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