THE incredible life of a brave woman who had a world famous godson, saw wartime action in Burma and witnessed the aftermath of the Aberfan disaster, has ended peacefully aged 91.

Eileen Margaret Mary Fowler, who also helped to shape community life in Canon Pyon alongside her late husband, died at Broomy Hill Nursing Home.

Mrs Fowler was recognised for her bravery during wartime when she was awarded the Burma Star.

She also won promotion from Captain to Lt Colonel and was made an Associate of the Royal Red Cross for the care she showed others as a nurse.

Working in conditions 'ahead of the front line' as part of the Queen Alexandra Nursing Service, Mrs Fowler travelled far and wide with the British Army.

A bout of dengue fever saved her life when the illness resulted in her missing the ship to Ceylon. The boat was torpedoed and 47 QAs along with the entire staff of the general hospital lost their lives.

Her nursing career began many years before her service during the war.

She was born in Northern Ireland, one of five children, and in spite of an apparently carefree childhood, they lived amid turbulent times and were reputed to have witnessed neighbours 'disappear' into the back of a truck never to be seen again.

Mrs Fowler moved to Liverpool to study nursing and it was there she made a great friend in fellow student, Pat McCartney.

Practising midwifery in the poverty-stricken back streets of Liverpool the nurses sometimes had the misfortune to come across 'dead babies in onion boxes' - little mites they were probably too late to save.

As their friendship developed, Pat McCartney asked Mrs Fowler to be godmother to her baby son, Paul.

Although her relationship with the legendary Beatle was not close, Paul's late wife Linda always kept in touch.

After the war, Mrs Fowler married Major Jeffrey Birt Fowler in Malacca and later moved to Canon Pyon after Major Fowler became ensconced in his father's retail business - Symonds and Co in Hereford.

Integrating themselves into parish life, Mrs Fowler initiated the Canon Pyon branch of the WI in the early '60s and she became the British Red Cross Superintendent for the county.

Mrs Fowler continued to work part-time in the maternity ward at the county hospital and she also ran a childrens' nursery behind the cattle market.

"I think she changed every major farmer's bottom in the county!" said her daughter Christina Fletcher.

She was also involved in leading cadets to help after the Aberfan disaster, in which a slagheap engulfed a school, in the 1960s. Christina remembers: "Aberfan disturbed her greatly. It is not often you saw mother shocked but that was horrible."

Supporting her husband at various functions, the Chamber of Commerce, the Pyonear and the Royal British Legion were all close to her heart.

Mrs Fowler was especially proud of starting the over 60s club for the parish running trips for the elderly as well as being a great supporter of the parish of St Thomas's, Weobley and a keen Bridge player.

She began to fade in May this year. The doctor was called to assess Mrs Fowler's health when she was reported to have told the medic: "I was in Burma you know, that was a picnic compared to this!"

Mrs Fowler leaves her children, Philip Fowler and Christina Fletcher along with grandchildren Richard, Maria, Edward and Louisa.