RMweb Premium Popular Post Flying Pig Posted October 12, 2020 RMweb Premium Popular Post Share Posted October 12, 2020 (edited) Some of you may have already seen the sad news of Shirley Rowe's recent death in the MRJ 280 thread or read her husband Dave's beautiful tribute to her in the magazine itself. As I knew Shirley slightly, Andy has invited me to start a thread here. Although I had long been aware of Dave and Shirley Rowe through their articles in modelling magazines, when I met Shirley it was in an entirely different context. As Dave describes in his MRJ article, Shirley's daughter and her partner for some reason decided it would be a good idea to stop travelling the world and reconstruct a derelict barn in the Vale of Pewsey as a family home instead. Despite being in their sixties at the time, Shirley and Dave pitched right in and worked amazingly hard. As a friend of the couple I spent several days on site, ostensibly helping with the work, and so got to know Shirley a little. She was as all who knew her will say a thoroughly lovely person. Unsurprisingly, given Shirley's quiet nature, most of the anecdotes relating to the Barn centre on Dave who was as much of a Character in that context as in the modelling world. Shirley just got on with it, usually with good cheer and often until she was clearly very tired. The only time I remember her complaining was when I trod on her trainer-clad heel while the five of us were carrying an improbably long item (a timber of some sort I think) over the broken terrain of the work site. H&S would have had a fit. I last met Shirley at her daughter's wedding a good few years ago and am greatly saddened that I will not now see her again. My sincere condolences go out to those who knew her better than I and will feel her loss more keenly. By the way for those who are interested, Dave in his inimitable fashion made a beautiful model of the Barn as it was before work started and Andy has already posted a picture in the MRJ thread and kindly allowed me to make a selection. The one below shows a wider view of the buildings and the lunar landscape within which work took place, now a very pleasant garden. What it doesn't show is the incessant rain of the first winter's work and the baking sun of the following summer, the only shelter a caravan which was itself nearing dereliction and was ultimately broken up on site. Edited October 12, 2020 by Flying Pig 3 29 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted October 13, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 13, 2020 That's very sad news. I knew Dave and Shirley slightly from the exhibition circuit years ago and of course more recently through her work in looking after MRJ overseas subscriptions. I shall miss the Christmas card she always popped in with the last issue of the year. My thoughts are with Dave, the family and her colleagues at MRJ. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gravy Train Posted October 14, 2020 Share Posted October 14, 2020 Dave & Shirley Rowe, what a lovely couple, so saddened to here of Shirley’s passing, she was a superb modeller. They created the most delightful models in various scales, Exbridge Quey comes to mind, so many creations from them, talent by the boat load and a standard that set them apart. 3 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Covkid Posted October 17, 2020 Share Posted October 17, 2020 Very sad to read the news. Although I never met them my mind is instantly transported to the April 1977 edition of the Model Railway Constructor, when I was a still at school in Tywyn. The little town of LLareggub featured in full colour on the front of the magazine and I was thrilled to read about Dave and Shirley's interpretation of Butcher Beynon and co from Dylan Thomas' Under Milk Wood. Linky to the layout https://www.carendt.com/small-layout-scrapbook/page-89a-september-2009/#milkwood RIP Shirley and condolences to all the family and friends - you certainly made a mark on my young mind !!! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold D9020 Nimbus Posted October 18, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 18, 2020 Many years ago, I saw "Catalunya" at the York show. The quality of the modelling was tremendous, and to watch a "day" from sunrise and the seabird calls, through to evening, the sun setting, the lights coming on in the buildings and the sound of the musicians in the bars, was an experience not to be forgotten. ISTR the layout might still exist—in Pecorama, perhaps? It's certainly a worthy example of her skills. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
devonmodeller Posted October 20, 2020 Share Posted October 20, 2020 Very sorry to hear the news. I well remember Shirley and Dave in their 'tent' at the Bristol show when it was in the Exhibition Centre, quite a few years ago now. I believe Catalunya is still in the Peco exhibition - at least it was on my visit last year. Sincere condolences to Dave and family. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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