About Gregory Gower
Gregory Gower was born in 1935 so growing up and schooling were mixed with a world in turmoil. Most persons have the luxury of not experiencing bombs being dropped on them. He was 4 years of age when war was declared and 10 when it ended. Many days and nights were spent in an air raid shelter having to cope with listening to a gun emplacement nearby firing at enemy aircraft who were dropping their deadly cargo over Kent. His house had a direct hit and he was still in bed fast asleep when the curtains and the foot of his bed caught alight and he was rescued by an A.R.P. Warden! Many houses were destroyed and damaged later when the first of the doodlebugs dived into the road.
He managed to gain his 11 plus at the age of 13. Went to Westwood Secondary Modern School then onto Dartford Grammar School. First job was training as a Compositor in Shoe Lane, Fleet Street. Second job was with Jones & Darke Rubber Plantation Office in Fenchurch Street.
Joined the Royal Air Force in 1952 and was sent abroad in 1954 and served the remainder of his service out in Aden and a Fighter Station in R A F Sharjah until 1957.
Became a Civil Servant, worked in the Passport Office then transferred to 13 Downing Street in the United Nations Department.
Became seriously ill in 1960 and ended up in the Neurological Ward at Brooke Hospital – not expected to live! After many operations and unusual x-ray tests, the diagnosis after two years was that he had a strain of Multiple Sclerosis.
In 1976 met Brenda and after a short engagement, married her on October 15th 1977. They have a ginger cat called Josie.
He is an acting/singing member of Eastbourne Gilbert and Sullivan Society and has been elected as Vice Chairman and Patron Secretary. Retired as Editor for National Operatic & Dramatic Association (NODA) South East England News Magazine, but is closely associated with NODA as a member. In his working life time he has been a Theatre Critic and is a Columnist for thesussexnewspaper.com and theuknewspaper.co.uk. He is Collection Secretary for N.C.H Action for Children Charity and supports many other charities and is a member of Eastbourne Emmanuel Church Choir.
He is an author and writes children’s books. He created in 2015 The Bertram Bear series and in 2019 his first Bertram Bear Book won an accolade: The Adventures of Bertram Bear voted Best Book of the year. His other genre is writing thriller mystery books.
