296 PROCEEDINGS COTTESWOLD CLUB 1914 



' He pays his visits round about the country town in which he lives 

 driven demurely in a brougham. But for the long distances, when he has to 

 battle with wind and rain and frightful roads, he sets forth jauntily in that 

 smartest of high dog-carts, looking for all the world like a jolly country 

 squire driving to the meet to save his leathers. 



' Much appreciated as are his dinner-parties, excellent as is his cellar, it 

 is upon his friends he lavishes his best ; for, in spite of his red face and husky 

 voice, it is well known that the doctor is the most abstemious man alive. 

 There are people who say he is a doctor by intuition rather than by erudition ; 

 but whichever way it is, we fly to him in every emergency with a faith that is 

 always justified. It is true he is something of an alarmist, much given to 

 informing nervous patients that ' You'll be dead in twenty-four hours if 



you don't do ' so and so. But when he has brought you back from the 



jaws of death, how gleefully he stands upon the hearthrug warming his coat 

 tails, while he congratulates himself upon his treatment of your case. He 

 is fond of ordering champagne for weakly people, and not infrequently sends 

 it himself to ensure that his prescription is followed. His memory is pro- 

 digious ; but there are those among his patients (who are poor and do not 

 like to mention it) who have known him to forget to send in any bill — a sin 

 of omission which we hope the recording angel will not fail to note." 



"At Christmas, 1906, after 40 years arduous professional life. Mr Fowler 

 decided to retire, and to seek leisure and relaxation while still blessed with 

 health and strength to enjoy it. 



" On retiring from practice, Mr Fowler was able to take a share in public 

 life which had hitherto been denied him, and in 1908 he offered himself as a 

 candidate for election to the Cirencester Urban District Council, being returned 

 at the head of the poll. He was re-elected in 191 1, and as Mr Haygarth 

 relinquished the chairmanship the following year, Mr Fowler was appointed 

 to the post, carrying out the duties, and also those of ex officio magistrate 

 associated therewith, in an admirable manner, so that his decision last Spring 

 not again to seek election was a subject of general and genuine regret. Mr 

 Fowler has also done excellent service for some years past as honorary secretary 

 to the Cirencester Children's Care Committee. Another direction in which 

 he found congenial relaxation was in attending the meetings and excursions 

 of the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society and the Cotteswold 

 Naturalists' Field Club." 



