Cecelia Margaret Ford, later to become Cecelia Margaret Fowles, was born on December 16th 1920, in the city of Gloucester. She had a happy but sometimes very difficult chldhood, along with her seven sisters - Mary, Agnes, Francis, Gertie, Slyvie, Lucy and Chrissie. Cecelia also had an older brother, Patrick who was more often known by his middle name of Leo.  Leo was the eldest child, and Cecelia adored her brother. The chidren were brought up by their devout catholic mother Gladys, who was very strict, and their more easy-going father. Leo joined the British army during the war, although he wasn't really quite old enough to join. He'd  asked his mother to give him the shortest haircut that she could manage. Little did she know, he was planning on joining up. Leo fought in Burma, where he was taken as a prisoner of war by the Japanese military. He survived, although was brutally tortured, and left scarred and unable to walk unaided. He was presumed dead for a period of time, and then the family were informed that he was still alive. After the war, Leo married a Burmese woman, who had been an officer in the Burmese army during the war. Sadly the marriage broke up.  Leo never re-married, and he died some years later.

When Cecelia left home during the war, she went to work at Cheltenham's General Hospital, where she was a 'ward maid', along with some of her sisters, carrying out all general nursing duties - the same duties as qualified nurses, and even taking student nurses under her wing, and showing them the ropes. There, she shared nurses accomodation with some of  her sisters who also worked as ward maids.  

Cecelia met George Fowles one night in a pub, and that meeting ended up with their very soon following marriage. Her mother dis-approved, as George wasn't a catholic, but it didn't stop the blissfully happy couple from taking their wedding vows. They lived in Cheltenham, where George worked as a carpenter and joiner by trade, and did building work.  Cecilia and George had two sons, Cecelia was a wonderful mother, devoted to her family,  and  Derek and Ken had very happy chldhoods.
 
Cecilia and George became grandparents when Ken and his wife Eve, had two daughters. After the birth of Cecilia's first granddaughter Elaine, (myself), Eve (my mother) became ill, and Cecelia took care of her baby granddaughter for a good few months, as Ken was working full time. After Eve's recovery, Cecelia and George always remained a huge support to Ken and Eve. 

Derek also married and had a daughter, granddaughter to Cecelia, who she never really knew, but Cecelia often mentioned her to me (Elaine).  Derek divorced, and had a step-daughter with his new partner, no longer in Cheltenham. Cecelia kept in touch with her 'step' granddaughter for as long as she could, and spoke fondly of her.

When Elaine (myself) grew up, she married and has had three children to date, Cecelia's and George's great grand-children. Cecelia lived to see her first great grand-child, and was full of happiness and joy when he was born.

Sadly we lost Cecelia in November, 2003. It was a very difficult time for all the family, and very difficult for George, Ken and Derek, but as a united family we pulled together, and that's what she would have wanted most.

Cecelia was my nan of course, and I loved her very, very much. Words cannot describe how much I miss her.  I never really ever said thank you to you nan, for all you did for me as a baby and as a child. And I never told you how much I love you.  Thank you nan, and I love you dearly, and always will. I have so many happy memories of you that I will treasure in my heart forever, and I know you are still with us.  You were such a wonderful nan, and an amazing person. God bless you.  xxxxxxx

                                                   Elaine 
                               (Cecelia's eldest granddaughter).