Peggy was born on 29th July 1927 in Shoreditch in the Borough of Hackney to Ned and May Mitchell and one wonders if she was the first “Peggy Mitchell” who indeed went on to marry Harry Fowler.
 
A few years later they moved to Clarendon Road in Edmonton and it was there that she became a lifelong Spurs fan and went to some games with her Dad as well as Haringey Speedway …maybe she was a biker chick in the making.
 
Peggy surprised Kev and Ann during a visit to Lyles House a couple of years ago when she recounted a story of her and her Mum walking down Clarendon Road during the war when a German fighter plane came along from behind them and it strafed the street. Her Mum, May, grabbed her and they dived for cover in the nearest house to avoid the bullets. Peggy nonchalantly said it was ok as they knew the people that lived there! She seemed to be more concerned about the sudden intrusion on neighbours than dodging bullets.
 
Peggy was married to Harry Fowler (known as Hal to Mum) on 26th January 1952 and the pictures of the happy day clearly show snow on the ground, however, Peggy determined to look her best was in a light well fitted suit rather than the heavy coats worn by the other guests.
 
During the first 4 years of their married life Nigel was born followed 2 years later by Kevin and Jill 4 years after him.
 
Peggy and Hal heard that there were new Council houses being built in Potters Bar that were specifically for people from Edmonton and Tottenham so they applied for one and got it. They moved in just before Christmas before the estate was finished – it was still a mud-bath. Nigel remembers one day when he and Kev were was out in the square when Kev got one of his boots caught in the mud and he couldn’t get it out. It was so stuck that it had to be left there and Mum wasn’t too happy. Kevin remembers being bootless for a while !
 
Being their first home they didn’t have much by way of possessions: just their beds and two deck chairs in the sitting room and the Christmas trees, but it was their new home and they were a happy family.
 
Later on Harry and Peggy were able to buy their own property in Dove Lane in Potters Bar and her Dad, Ned, who had contributed to the purchase moved in with us. Pets were always part of the family and Nigel remembers bringing home a White Leghorn cockerel that one of his mates had given him and it soon settled in. He named it ‘Cocky’ but trouble soon began when the neighbours complained about the crowing in the morning and, for some reason, it didn’t take to Mum too much. Whenever she went in the garden to take the washing out it would run up to her and attack her feet. It had to go! Dad said he was rehomed but Nigel isn’t so sure….especially as roast chicken was served at the weekend. Henrietta, the Rhode Island Red, was a much better addition and Mum and the rest of us were able to get her to take food that we held between our lips.
 
Their next home was the house at Naybur Bros Garden Centre where Dad had taken the job of Garden Centre manager and Mum later took on managing the books. They were very happy there until it was time to retire and they moved to Swanton Novers in the mid eighties. Jill went ahead of them to look after the house until they could move in.
 
Here are some memories of Peggy that give a good insight into her character:
 
Jill remembers Saturday mornings when Dad was at work and the boys were out exploring, Peggy would take Jill to C&A in the West End just at the right time to get first pick of the new season’s clothes. Her love of clothes and being well turned out was constant throughout her life.
 
We all knew that she was very particular about her hair. Jill and Dave recall a time when they were visiting Northern Ireland and they decided to take Arthur’s car (with his permission!) to go to a Nature Reserve in Port Rush but to get there you had to cross a beach. Apparently this was normal but Dave didn’t realise how soft the surface was and they got stuck. It was pouring with rain and Dave wanted everyone to get out to lighten the load so they could move the car but she wouldn’t budge because her hairdo would be spoilt!  Luckily some surfers came along and helped get them out.
 
Ann remembers a time when we had been walking round a town for a time and Mum was saying that she needed to rest somewhere. At some point though she spotted Edinburgh Woolen Mill and shot off like a bullet to go in and take a look with no sign of any tiredness! She loved shopping.
 
Being Londoners of a certain age, Mum and Dad both loved to eat jellied and Morrison’s in Fakenham provided their weekly fix. Their favourite fish and chips was from French’s in Wells-next-the-sea that they’d eat in the car using their own condiments and cutlery whilst watching the world go by.
 
Peggy was quite stubborn and a bit crafty. You might suggest something to her and she would apparently agree with you but then go off and do what exactly what she wanted to do….there are too many examples of this to include here, we all have our own favourites to remember.
 
When Mum and Dad were both in Lyles House and Dad was bed-bound there was many a time when Mum would sit with Dad for a while and then tell him she was going off for lunch but afterwards she would go and chat to the others in the Day room. Dad was most indignant that she’d prefer someone else’s company.
 
Paul remembers the times when we would drive up to Nanny and Grandad’s and he would look forward to breakfast in the morning. Why? Because Nanny bought Kellogg’s variety packs which meant he had at least two packs of Coco Pops to look forward to – he wasn’t allowed them at home.
 
Lisa remembers playing dominos with Nanny and Grandad and eating lots of turkey and shortbread. She also liked it when Nanny put the electric blanket on in her bed, what a treat that was.
 We all loved Peggy and we say goodbye to a loving Mum and Nanny knowing that she is now with Hal somewhere over the rainbow.