Funeral of Evelyn Rowley, former matron at Wells Cottage Hospital

The funeral of Evelyn Rowley, former matron of Wells Cottage Hospital, was held at St Nicholas' Church, Wells-next-the-Sea, followed by cremation at Mintlyn Crematorium, King's Lynn.

The services were conducted by Canon William Sayer.

Miss Rowley, born at Hampstead on May 10, 1926, attended schools in London including Ilford County High School for Girls until she was evacuated to Devon where she attended Tiverton School.

Her nursing career began in Bristol where she recalled giving sick children sunlight treatment with powerful lights. She returned to London to train at the London Hospital completing her State Registered Nurse training in 1948.

Miss Rowley, moved to Norfolk in the early 1950's taking a post as Sister at North Walsham Hospital. After training as a mid-wife in Norwich she gained the position of Matron of the Cottage Hospital at Wells in 1954, a post she held until her retirement in December, 1985. Miss Rowley, a dedicated nurse, saw the hospital grow from eight to 14 beds. By 1985 when she retired she was responsible for 20 staff and a hospital which included casualty, physiotherapy, and out-patients departments and had facilities for X-rays and minor operations as well.

She, her staff, and the doctors who attended the hospital are still well-remembered within the local community. Miss Rowley led by example as a nurse and encouraged many to follow in her footsteps and become nurses. The cottage hospital and 'matron' were held in high-regard; the style of nursing encompassing the whole family. 'Matron' always had a dog and the hospital also had a resident cat.

After retiring in the mid-1980s, Miss Rowley helped the local Brownie pack and was also church warden at St Nicholas' Church. A life-long dog owner Miss Rowley adopted a Battersea dog in her retirement and fostered other dogs.

Miss Rowley died in Wells on September 12 after a short illness.