Happy memories as bikers roar in for Bill
Motorcyclists help 91-year-old former circus star recall his time in India
THE sound of revving motorbikes filled the air as almost two dozen bikers turned out in the rain to make a 91-year-old Newbury care home resident’s memories come to life.
Lionel William ‘Bill’ Fowle was born in India in 1930 and starred in the circus after being trained by his father – also named Lionel – to do motorbike stunts, jumps through rings of fire and rides in the globe.
Now suffering from dementia, he lives in the Bupa Argyle Care Home in Pound Street, Newbury, and on Saturday 20 bikers visited the home to reminisce with Mr Fowle over his days in the circus.
The bikers pulled up in the care home car park, greeting Mr Fowle, who was sitting in the entrance of the home with a scrapbook of old photos.
He then went out into the car park to get a closer look at the bikes – which included models similar to Mr Fowle’s old Red Indian.
Mr Fowle’s daughter Debbie said she was “taken aback” by the number of bikers who turned out, after an appeal was put out by the care home.
She said: “The circus is what’s stuck with him and he’s very proud that his mother and father taught him everything he knows.
“When the lady from the care home called me to say this had been put on and when
I saw it on Facebook I was just so touched really.
“Dad has been very proud of his life and we’re also very proud of him, so it’s been great to celebrate that today.
“He likes to talk about it and even at home with the dementia it’s hard to have a conversation, but it’s lovely he can look through the pictures. “It’s a comfort to him.” Mr Fowle’s granddaughter Chloe added: “I’ve always loved listening to his stories.
“He always talks about going back to India to get his motorbike because it was the most exciting time of his life.”
Saturday’s event was the brainchild of the care home manager Jane Edwards, who said Mr Fowle had been “in his element” while surrounded by bikes.
She said: “It’s fantastic – it’s so lovely that so many people responded to our request to make a resident happy and to bring their memories to life.
“A lot of the bikers are talking to him and sharing their experiences and to be honest Bill is in his element.
“He’s sure he could ride one of the bikes away.”
Mr Fowle was born in Jabalpur in 1930 during the British Raj and went to boarding school while his parents were circus artists.
After leaving school he joined the circus, where his father trained him to do stunts – including riding in the globe, which involved Mr Fowle riding round vertically while his father rode from top to bottom at the same time.
He met his first wife Jackie in India and moved to UK in 1965, working in factories to support his family.
They had three children, Andy, Debbie and Billie, before getting divorced in 1980.
Mr Fowle started taxi driving part time – taking it up full time when he was made redundant from the Newbury factory Proof Packings.
He has been married to his second wife, Valerie, for 34 years, gaining five step-children – Gary, Robert, Julie, Mandy and Linda. The married couple enjoyed Country and Western music and dancing, until Mr Fowle stopped driving at the age of 83.
Mr Fowle moved to the Argyles in August this year, while his wife still lives in the family home in Thatcham.
He always talks about going back to India to get his motorbike because it was the most exciting time of his life