Tony Downton – Angela Drewe – Janet Fowler 

Angela Drewe (1944-2011)

Angela was born and grew up in Bude, Cornwall, and attended Bude Grammar School before training to be a Maths teacher. While at college in London she met and married Richard.

In 1969, Richard joined the Army and for the next 18 years the family lived in various parts of England and West Germany. Martin, Sally and Isabel were born in quick succession and the family was enjoying life in Verden near the East German border when Angela was diagnosed with thyroid cancer.

Angela underwent major surgery in London but was determined to live a full and active life. As well as raising the children she was a marvellous support to Richard in his Army career and when the children were old enough, returned to teaching in Germany, in London, and finally in Dorset.

Angela was Head of Maths at St Mary’s School Puddletown for 16 years, and entered fully into the life of the school – enjoying hockey, skiing trips, French trips and activity weeks. She was an inspirational Maths teacher, never too busy to explain something to the children or to give non-specialist teachers the confidence to teach Maths with enjoyment. In her retirement she loved meeting her former pupils and hearing about their lives.

As well as her teaching commitments Angela managed to raise her children, work tirelessly with Richard in renovating the family home and gardens, keeping a flock of sheep and looking after the horses.

Sadly, about 11 years ago, after experiencing problems whilst skiing, Angela was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and decided to retire. However, she continued to live life to the full. She was a founder member and Chair of the tennis club, one of the Piddlehinton book authors, a bellringer, played badminton, enjoyed country dancing and was a regular member of the ladies swimming and bridge groups. She also developed her lifelong interest in archaeology. She loved walking her dogs and enjoyed accompanying Richard to horse racing meetings. She was able to enjoy wonderful holidays and to keep her brain active she became an expert in brain puzzles and completed OU courses in Ancient Greek and Latin with flying colours.

Angela courageously battled against the increasing effects of Parkinson’s but then about five years ago was told that her cancer had returned. Despite this she refused to let it get the better of her but preferred to concentrate on seeing as much as she could of her children and grandchildren, and enjoying regular outings with family and friends.

She continued to try to help others, supporting Martin, Sally and Isabel when they each ran the London Marathon to raise funds for Parkinson’s UK and on a magnificent day last June, when with the help of some very good friends, organised cream teas in the garden in aid of the same charity. This theme continued to the end when she donated her brain to Imperial College, London, for research into the disease.

The family would like to thank all those concerned for the excellent care which Angela received from the Cerne Abbas Surgery, the Dorset and Poole Hospitals, the Weldmar Hospicecare Trust and Marie Curie Cancer Care, and to thank everyone for the many letters, cards and tributes to Angela.

Tony Downton (1945-2012)

Many houses and businesses in the valley bear testament to the skill of Tony Downton, variously described as a carpenter, joiner, builder – someone who could turn his hand to almost anything. Dorchester-born, the second of four sons, he attended schools at Hazelbury Bryan and Sturminster Newton.

His first employment was for Harold Mears at Melcombe Bingham, then A. Parsons and Sons for whom he worked at the former Piddlehinton army camp for six years. In 1972 he became self-employed and with partners Alan, Paul and Jimmy, worked on several village properties, Plush cricket pavilion and the bar in the Piddle Inn being just two of the many, and even found time to make improvements to the appearance of his own house at Riverside, opposite today’s valley school.

Tony and wife June met at Sturminster carnival in 1966, married in 1968 and lived in Piddletrenthide for 42 years, where they brought up their daughters Tracey and Jane and doted on grandchildren Harry, Emma, and Ben. Tony even found spare time to support Manchester United and manage Piddletrenthide FC, play cricket for Plush and assist at Point-to-Point. He became ill in June 2012 and sadly passed away in the care of the Joseph Weld Hospice on 19 October.

Janet Fowler (1948-2013)

Janet was born at Tatton Farm near Chickerell, the youngest of six children, having three sisters and two brothers. She later moved to Tarrant Rawston with her family. On leaving school she worked in Flight Refuelling’s canteen at Tarrant Rushton air field.

Later she met and married Roger and after various farm jobs they moved to Piddletrenthide Estate, working for the Boughey family. Janet worked in various local pubs including the European and the Brace of Pheasants. The family moved to Minehead to work on a farm but returned three years later to the Piddletrenthide Estate, this time staying for 25 years. Janet was a professional cook so worked at the Poachers Inn for Stephen and Avril Fox and family. She was well known for her steak and kidney pies and Dorset apple cakes.

They later moved to Stalbridge where she worked in the local supermarket. Janet died peacefully in the Weldmar Hospice on Sunday July 7th and is survived by Roger, children Simon and Wendy and grandson Henry.