May Anderson Hilton-Barber^[1]

1919 - 2006  (86 years)

• Name	May Anderson Hilton-Barber  [2]
  Nickname	Dolly
  Birth	19 Nov 1919  [2, 3]
  Gender	Female
  1820 Lineage	Yes
  Death	23 Apr 2006	Kenton-on-Sea, Eastern Cape, South Africa   [2, 3]
  Person ID	I3390	master
  Last Modified	19 Sep 2024

  
  

  Father	Charles Evelyn Hilton-Barber,   b. 25 Sep 1879, Cradock, Eastern Cape, South Africa d. 1943 (Age 63 years)
  Mother	Harriet May Anderson
  Family ID	F468	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Francis William Monkhouse Bowker,   b. 5 May 1914, Thorn Kloof, Albany, Eastern Cape, South Africa d. 15 Mar 1994, Grahamstown, Eastern Cape, South Africa (Age 79 years)
  Married	1944  [4]
  Marriage	15 Aug 1944  [3]
  Children	+ 1. Francis William Monkhouse Bowker + 2. Robert Berners Scott Bowker + 3. Hilary Mitford Embleton Bowker
  Family ID	F655	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	19 Sep 2024

  
  

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  Death - 23 Apr 2006 - Kenton-on-Sea, Eastern Cape, South Africa  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Notes

  Obituary by Thelma NEVILLE Grocotts Mail, Friday May 12, 2006 Goodbye to a versatile, talented great-grandmother Dolly BOWKER was a remarkable woman with amazing talents and versatility. After matriculating at the Collegiate School in Port Elizabeth, where she was head girl, Dolly HILTON BARBER trained as a nurse at Settlers Hospital (Grahamstown) and later qualified as a sister. In 1944 she married Francis BOWKER, of the farm Thornkloof in Carlisle Bridge. Her nursing skills enabled her to open a clinic on the farm, where she cared for the staff and helped to bring many babies into the world. Francis was among the pioneers of game conservation in this country and in 1969 he started one of the first safaris in the Eastern Cape. Dolly became involved in this enterprise. Not only did she provide hospitality for clients from many parts of the world, but she supervised the export of animals to zoos in Europe. Thornkloof farms mainly with cattle and sheep, but Dolly was also an expert with horses and her skills as a judge were in demand at many equestrian events. One of Dolly's hobbies was the breeding of exotic birds, which became an added attraction on Thornkloof. Apart from her interest in the animals on the farm, Dolly was an ardent gardener, which was evident from the lovely garden at Thornkloof. Her business acumen extended into the ownership of a hairdressing salon. She attended hairdressing classes at the Port Elizabeth Technikon to become knowledgeable about this profession. Many of her friends got free hairdos when the practised on us. Meanwhile, she brought up three sons, Frank, Robert and Hilary. She was a devoted mother: always there for them. There must be many former school pupils - especially boarders - who remember the enjoyable outings she organised for them at Thornkloof. She embraced her daughter-in-law and was a wonderful, loving grandmother, who never forgot birthdays and other celebrations. She lived to see her first great grand-child. The generous hospitality of the BOWKERs was legend. We enjoyed so many parties at Thornkloof, where we were treated to sumptuous meals. Apart from her culinary talents, Dolly was an expert in knitting and needlework. She had a love of poetry, literature and drama. At one time she was the district correspondent for Grocott's Mail. The extraordinary diversity of her talents was indeed phenomenal. She was a devout Christian and helped to organise services for the farming community. Dolly's generous gifts and contribution to charities was well known, but her greatest gift was her kindness especially to the old, the sick and the bereaved. Many of us are grateful for her sympathy and practical help in times of trouble. She bore her long illness with fortitude. Fortunately she was supported by a loving family and to them we extend our sympathy on the loss of their remarkable and courageous mother, mother in law and grandmother. Ends++

  
  

• Sources

  [S10] Ivan Mitford-Barberton, "The Barbers of the Peak", (Oxford University Press, 1934), 63. [S2548] Bowker, Hilary M E, 15 Jun 2015. [S2645] Gen Database, (www.gendatabase.com), http://www.gendatabase.com/surname-name-index.php?q=BOWKER. [S5018] Jervois, Wiliam.