Wheatley Hill History Club didn’t know how lucky it was in May 1995, when Owen Rowland came to one of our first meetings. He was looking for a hobby, and thank goodness he chose local history! This quiet, unassuming man who was liked and gained the respect of everyone he came into contact with, dedicated himself to the pursuit of local history in Thornley, Ludworth and Wheatley Hill. His research skills were outstanding. He was thorough, efficient and reliable. He didn’t leave a stone unturned and never let distance get in the way of seeking out a record that he was in pursuit of. His contributions to local history were magnificent.