Amy Rowlands (7 Dec 1933 - 2 Mar 2020)

I remember Mrs Rowlands, she was a lovely lady. I was a pupil at Baileys from 1979 to 1984 xxx

Thinking of Amy, I am transported back to the Ladies’ Staff Room at Ernest Bailey Grammar School, Matlock. In the early 1970s I was a young teacher starting my first job. Amy was very welcoming; warm and vivacious she was always ready for a chat whether it be about the joys and trials of classroom teaching or about the latest novel she was reading. When I bought my first bungalow, Amy invited me to choose what plants I would like from her rockery. My thoughts are with her family. Fond memories, Ruth Barnes

As a child, I have fond memories of visiting her and David (or Terry as we called him) up in Matlock: visiting Gulliver’s Kingdom, hiring Betamax videos and taking trips out to the local countryside. Whilst I’m almost certain this is false memory syndrome, and I feel her correcting me as I write this, my memory is of watching videos in their living room whilst she and and Terry hosted parties for the adults. Regardless, their parties of the 1970s were, and still are, family folklore and a fitting example of her joie de vivre.

Echoing the other reflections on here, Amy always took an interest in my education and was always keen to know how I was and what I was up to as I grew up and into adulthood. As an adult Amy and I found ourselves living relatively close to one another and so we would see each other once or twice a year in Dorking. I enjoyed this time together and found her to be good company. As fellow English graduates and keen travellers we found common interests and she would fondly keep me up to date with her grandchildren. Whilst her eyesight and body might have been failing her, her mind was certainly not and we would often have a bit of a hoot; that is how I will remember Amy. Sian

It was so uplifting for us to read Mark's eloquent and vivid eulogy to Amy in the beautiful memento the family have sent us. Our memories of Amy echo so much of what Mark wrote. As part of Carmel's extremely extended family we were always struck by the interest she showed in us and our children, her recall of what they were up to and her keen engagement with them at our noisy, not to say uproarious, get-togethers - in which her quiet dignity was often in stark contrast to the uncontrolled chaos around her. As an ex-teacher myself I could sense and appreciate the enthusiasm with which she could talk about the classroom, both its joys and challenges. She remained as sharp, appreciative and opinionated about books and literature well up to the last time we saw her at Christmas. Our condolences to Mark, Carmel and the grand children - and may Amy rest in peace. She was a lovely lady. Paul and Ela.

I will be here at Sondes Farm at three tomorrow with my order of service thinking about my lovely neighbour. My thoughts will also be with your family.
Kathleen