Wilfred Albert Rowsell 1909 - 1977

Entry of Birth

Wilfred Albert Rowsell was born on July 14, 1909 in Edmonton, Middlesex, England.

He was the son of Albert Tom Rowsell and Agnes Elizabeth Muncey.

He was married to Florence Elsie Hobson on December 20, 1931 at Edmonton, Middlesex, England. They had four children.

Houndsfield Rd. School

His son writes: "My father left Houndsfield Road school in Edmonton, North London at age fifteen.  Early employment included delivering milk and bread to households by horse and cart.  He fondly recalled how the horses would quickly remember the houses being served and stop without prompting. About the same time he developed an appreciation for dung that he retained throughout his lifetime, being keenly aware of its value as a soil additive in his passion for gardening.  

He was in the National Fire Service when war commenced in 1939 and was soon involved in the nightly fire-fighting following the relentless bombing of London.  On one occasion at the London Docks, his crew was strafed by enemy aircraft, killing one and injuring the rest.  Part of my father's hip was blown away and bullets tore through his arms and legs.  After lengthy rehabilitation and discharge from the N.F.S. he changed course and worked firstly as a mechanic servicing a fleet of lorries and then for Chingford Council maintaining sportsfields.  He retired to pursue his gardening and fishing interests, and died in 1977."