Margaret Bowler Obituary, Death – Margaret Bowler the third of August 2023 all the way through the thirty first of March 2023 The departure of Margaret Bowler, the eighth and final young woman from Ernest Bailey Grammar School who was a part of the group of young women that founded Matlock Baileans Hockey Club in 1946, is something that we have to record with a profound feeling of loss. Margaret was the final member of the group. According to the club’s mission statement, the organization’s goal was to “foster friendships and social contacts made during the course of school life.” This was the primary objective of the group.
Margaret worked as a primary school principal and got training as a teacher prior to beginning her career as a lecturer at Matlock College. Although she devoted a great deal of her time and energy to teaching and lecturing, she also placed a large emphasis on competing in sports events. Margaret often found herself waxing nostalgic about the beginnings of the Club and how its members were required to ride the bus in order to get to their games. She recalls making her own shin guards out of her stockings by stuffing them with cotton wool in order to turn them into protective gear. The equipment was straightforward. Even after she had put away her hockey stick, Margaret never stopped showing her support for the Club in any way, shape, or form. She organized yard sales, hosted afternoons with tea and baked goods, and provided reliable monetary contributions to the Club’s general budget throughout the year.
It was a delight to have her as our guest of honor at the celebratory luncheon for the Club’s seventieth anniversary. She was always interested in hearing the most recent news about the organization, so it was fitting that she served as the guest of honor at this occasion. The legacy that Margaret has left behind is one that will be remembered for quite some time. St. Giles Church, which can be found at Church Street, Matlock, DE4 3BZ, will be the location of Margaret Bowler’s funeral on Tuesday, April 25, at 11 a.m.