The Bowers and Brasier's, friends literally for life.
Roland was a skilled engineer and toolmaker, and could turn his hand to most things. He and I , as young men in the 60's did a few mad things together! The bells at St. Clements were being recast and had to be brought down from the tower. So, in true gungho style we dismantled one of the bells and carried it down the tower stairs!!!! Health and safety didn't apply back then. I remember at St.Clements Old Time Dancing we were being taught The Lancers, Rowland and I were so bad we had to dance it together.
A visit to us in Ashford was memorable, we decided to take a day trip to France, only to realise on the way over that Rowland and Audrey did not have passports. The time in France was spent on the ferry while it unloaded and loaded its passengers, and then we sailed back. Happy days!
We managed to stay in touch all our lives, wherever we moved to, and it was lovely for Sheila and me to see Rowland and Audrey for the last time together at Caister a few years ago. We valued the friendship from before we were married and the times we shared with our young children, Mark, Sally, Jane, and Stephen.

I feel very proud to have been able to call Rowland a dear friend.

Jim