South Yorkshire Times, April 7th, 1939.
The death occurred on Sunday at his home “Dolcliffe Vale,” Dolcliffe Road, Mexborough, of Mr Robert Fowler, engineer and surveyor to Swinton Urban council for 16 years, and chairman of Mexborough urban council in 1926.
Son of a Farmer.
He was born at Gravely, Cambridgeshire, and was the son of a Farmer. He first became associated with Yorkshire in 1833 when he took the post of assistant engineer to a Mr Colson, of Hull, and Barnsley Railway, Later. He was engaged as assistant engineer in the construction of the Thornton and Keighley Railway, after which he became surveyor to the Burkinshaw Local board, Near Bradford.
His first local contact was made in 1893 when he became engineer and surveyor to Swinton urban Council, where he has a large part in securing a better water supply for the town. He retired from public service in 1909, and took up practise as an engineer and surveyor, at Rycroft, Rawmarsh, until 1918, when he gave up business entirely and came to live on his own property in Mexborough.
In 1922 he offered himself for the first time at a candidate for council honours and was successful. He was again successful in 1925, and was made chairman of the council in 1926 though he had refused the offer previously. He was a man of wide experience and good business judgement and it was he who introduced the idea of planting trees to beautify the town. Mr Fowler was an enthusiastic supporter of open spaces for all, and he had hoped that the town would possess more large parks and playgrounds.
Apart from Public life his main hobby was horticulture.