Brother Romuald Dowling, who died on October 5th, 1923, of pneumonia, at Ilkley, came to Ampleforth in 1893 at the age of twelve. From his entrance into the School he was popular, for he could sing a good song, and he was never what Samuel Johnson called 'an unclubable man.' A natural histrionic vein found an artistic outlet in Shakespearean comedy. He played cricket with some success. To the amusement of his side and to the perturbation of his opponents, he could defy the bowlers in a nervous cramped style for hours. The boys who were his contemporaries hardly realised the serious disposition which underlay a great deal of external fun, but those who entered religion with him in September, 1900 very soon learnt his sterling worth. Unfortunately a lifelong sickness overtook him in 1907 just as he was to be ordained priest. He had shown himself a zealous religious, nervously anxious to make the best of his parts, and giving promise of being an excellent and painstaking master with small boys. As his disorder required constant attention and great repose he was allowed by his superiors to reside with his parents, whose devotion and attention to his wants through all those years have never flagged. He did not himself give up the hope of recovering his health and of returning to his work, and even when years of sickness had ruined his constitution he regarded daily attendance at Holy Mass and Holy Communion, with constant visits to the Blessed Sacrament, as the irreducible minimum of his religious life. May he rest in peace.
REV FR WILFRID ROMUALD DOWLING 5 October 1923
1881 29 Jun Born Bradford
1893 Ampleforth
1900 3 Sep Habit Belmont Prior Raynal
1901 4 Sep Simple Vows
1902 18 May Minor Orders
1903 Returned to Ampleforth
1904 5 Oct Solemn Vows
1905 2 Apr Subdiaconate Ampleforth Bishop Lacy
1906 25 Mar Diaconate " " "
Invalided (epilepsy)
1908 Retired to his home at Ilkley
1923 5 Oct Died due to bronchial pneumonia at Ilkley
9 Oct Buried at Ilkley