Francis Oliver Stowell 1946 - 2003
Oll Stowell
By KevinTheB
January 24 2003
Many of you Drunken and Otherwise Wasps out there will have encountered Oll Stowell in and around the Old Club, Loftus Road and lately Adams Park. The Drunken Wasps remember him fondly.
I (KevinTheB) has the pleasure of getting to know him in that kind of way where you nod at each other in the bar, and get the other a beer if you were near. Others knew him more, others less. He was fond of a beer, and in a roundabout way, this was his downfall – literally.
Yeti continues:
As H and I got to Acton early that wet and windy Monday we decided to partake of a beer or two in The King’s Head before we sojourned across the square to St Mary’s for Oliver’s service. In the pub there was a notice up informing patrons that a collection was taking place in honour of the late Oliver Stowell, a local and a native of these parts. We met some other friends of Oliver’s in there and exchanged some brief stories; it was here how we finally heard the whole story behind Oliver’s tragic accident. It appears that he had been in the Kings Head, partaking of some liquid refreshment with his friends there. At some point later in the evening he took it upon himself to travel onto a nearby rival hostelry where they had organised a Karaoke night. Now, if you remember, the night of Friday 10th was a cold one with heavy frost and ice remaining from all that snow we had, and as Oliver was walking home he slipped and hit his head, causing massive brain damage. This led to hospitalisation and, ultimately, to him leaving us for better things.
We arrived at the church and signed a remembrance book, said hello to the Vicar and took our places. H and I were both pleasantly warmed to see so many people there, I guess at 300 plus from all age groups and all backgrounds. The service lasted an hour, and the eulogy read out by the curate surprised many people, as Oliver had so many interests in so many different circles. Hymns were sung and prayers were said, and everyone there seemed to smile as they remembered the ‘old boy’. It saddened me that I didn’t know him better.
What I took away from that Monday in Acton was this; live life to the fullest, and if I am remembered fondly by half as many people as were present that day for Oll, I will deem myself lucky.
I think Dom’s words said it all: “Adieu, old boy.”
Francis Oliver Stowell (1st Oct 1946 - 10th Jan 2003)
£100 was raised by the Drunken Wasps and will go towards the restoration fund for St Mary’s Church, Acton.
The eulogy given in the church on the day of the service is set out below.
Francis Oliver Stowell.
There are so many aspects to the life of Oliver that all we can do is Have snapshots
Oliver was born in Ealing in 1946, he grew up in the heart of that community, indeed he only ever lived in two houses: the one he grew up in and the one he moved to upon his marriage. Oliver and his younger brother Andrew were sent to Sunday school at St Peter's Ealing and so began a long association, he became a PCC member and churchwarden serving the church there well before moving to Acton.
Oliver and Andrew both attended St Pauls School, Oliver going into the Law and working with amongst other firms: Schroeders and Underwoods. It is probable that if he had had a totally free choice he might well have chosen the army as a career.
Oliver was always someone with a care for people and a social conscience. He became involved in local politics largely through the Young Conservatives, but he went onto serve for 12 years as an Ealing councillor, during that time he was Vice Chair of Town Planning, and in on the early stages of the development outside our church doors. After retiring from the council he kept in touch with things via current councillors and friends - he remained always willing to help those in need, most recently he has been encouraging and assisting the member of the Somali community on Crown Street.
As a school governor Oliver served at St John's West Ealing and at Tudor Primary School, he was especially proud of steering Tudor through some difficult times, he enjoyed the friendship and respect of staff and parents, delighting in school outings and visits.
Many are here who shared times at Ealing Round Table and have kept in touch meeting regularly and continuing to exchange news and views, deepening the friendship over the years.
We might wonder how Oliver had time for so much, but there is more: he was a member and keen supporter of WASPS and travelled to away fixtures taking great joy in the successes of the team. Yet he also had time to enjoy Cricket.
For many of us here today, it is his involvement in this local community of Acton that has endeared him to us. For 10 years he has been rooted here, he has known the good things about Acton and also it's failings, its strengths and its weaknesses, as he was also aware of his own. Oliver was a gregarious man, he enjoyed company and became a well known figure in all the places where the community gathers - with friends who meet in our various local hostelries and pubs. There has been a deep sense of shock as the news of his tragic death became known. Oliver was the one who in the past visited the sick in hospital, encouraged those who seemed friendless and offered them practical friendship.
Oliver was known, loved and respected here in St Mary's. We have known his wit and wisdom - we have witnessed him seeking the quietness to centre himself back with God - we have enjoyed his sociability and benefited from his service on the PCC and as a churchwarden. Most of all we have seen that behind it all was a man of deep faith and integrity always trying to be more than he was, to be better than he could manage - constantly seeking to know the accepting love and mercy of God.
Whatever we may say, Oliver is mourned not only by the very many friends and contacts here today, but by his wife Corinna and by Andrew his brother and all those whom he called family. For them there is no replacement, there is a deep loss and sadness. Daniel, Dominic, Maxim and Henry will miss getting to know him better. There are so many unfinished dreams and hopes. Oliver has gone in the fullness of life, a room that was vibrant with his presence is now strangely silent and we all feel that loss. We offer no platitude; we trust that in the mystery of things Oliver has found that deep, deep peace that at times eluded him. He had a certainty that in Christ all would be well and perhaps his love of the Christmas services was in the reaffirmation of that mystery and certainty.
Concluding we heard St John Chapter 1.1-14 one of Oliver's favourite passages, and then we remembered with thanks and made our peace.