Obituary: Dereck Fowles MBE
Born: 1927
Died: 3 November 2013
Dereck Fowles MBE 1927-2013. Born in Bristol, where he was educated by the Christian Brothers, he
joined the Navy in 1944 as a midshipman and was on the King George v battleship when the peace
treaty was signed with Japan in 1945 in Tokyo Bay. The following year he went to Bristol University
where he graduated with a BA Honours in English and History and in his spare time studied stage
management at the Bristol Old Vic. His first teaching post was at Priory Park in Bath, then Harrison
College Barbados (where he taught the future Sir Gary Sobers) before returning to the UK in 1956 to
teach at the Abbey School. There he was remembered as a charismatic and warm hearted, humorous
teacher and with his drama experience he was involved in many productions. He left the Abbey in 1964
to teach at Notre Dame Dumbarton and in 1974 moved to St. Patrick’s HS, Coatbridge as Deputy Head
before becoming Rector at St Margaret’s HS. After he retired he was awarded an MBE (2010) for his
services to the community in the Forth Valley and Lomond Local Action Group. He died 3 November
2013 aged 86 in Drymen. Mike Turnbull attended the funeral and laid a wreath on behalf of the FAOBA.