Allen Rowley
{{Short description|British journalist and aviation author}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2023}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Allen Rowley
| image = Allen Rowley Yorkshire Post Tower.tif
| birth_date = 1927
| birth_place = Thornhill, Dewsbury
| death_date = 8 November 2006
| known_for = Journalist, writer
}}
Allen Rowley (1927–2006) was a British journalist, aviation correspondent and author. He wrote several books, including the first publication that contained information about all British airports.{{Cite book |last=Langley |first=Laurence |title=British Airports and Air Traveller |publisher=The Manor Publishing Company |location=Bradford}}
Early life and education
Allen Rowley was born in Dewsbury in 1927. He enrolled in art school, but in 1942 left to become a trainee reporter on the Dewsbury District News.{{Cite web |last=Libraries |first=Leeds |date=2022-03-03 |title=The amazing career of aviation correspondent, author and journalist Allen Rowley |url=https://secretlibraryleeds.net/2022/03/03/the-amazing-career-of-aviation-correspondent-author-and-journalist-allen-rowley/ |access-date=2022-09-23 |website=The Secret Library {{!}} Leeds Libraries Heritage Blog |language=en}}
Career
After the war Rowley joined the Wakefield Express as a reporter and feature writer. He wrote a number of articles during a visit to America and flew in a Super Sabre becoming one of the first British people to fly at 1000mph.{{Cite journal |date=February 1968 |title=Allen Rowley |journal=The Leeds Graphic}}
Rowley worked at eight different newspapers, including the Dewsbury Reporter and the Yorkshire Evening News in Doncaster.{{Cite news |date=20 November 2006 |title=Obituary Mr Allen Rowley |work=Dewsbury Reporter |url=https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AWGLNB&t=stp%3ANewspaper%21Newspaper/country%3AEngland%21England&sort=YMD_date%3AD&maxresults=20&f=advanced&val-base-0=%27allen%20rowley%27%20obituary&fld-base-0=alltext&fld-nav-1=YMD_date&val-nav-1=1980%20-%202009&docref=news/115C84F212F6FB00 |access-date=11 November 2006}} At the Yorkshire Evening News he was reporter then feature writer and deputy features editor He later joined The Sunday People in London. He returned to Yorkshire when an aviation correspondent position at the Yorkshire Evening News became available. He later was employed in the same role at the Yorkshire Evening Post. His experience and interest in aviation led him to produce a number of books on airports, including the first guide to British airports.{{Cite web |title=Allen Rowley – RAF Church Fenton |url=https://www.rafchurchfenton.org.uk/history/allen-rowley |access-date=2023-08-28 }}
Rowley took part in many important flights and special operations, including the first transatlantic flights of 707 and DC8 aircraft of various airlines. He wrote articles about the American missile programme and was the first journalist to uncover that American missiles were to be stationed on British RAF stations. His article for the Yorkshire Evening News about the aerial refuelling of atom bombers by night led to an award from the United States Ar Force.{{cite news |date=February 1968 |title=Allen Rowley |work=The Leeds Graphic}}
Air displays
File:RAF Church Fenton - geograph.org.uk - 1857332.jpg
Allen's association with the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) began in 1954, and he was chief organiser and commentator at the Yorkshire Air Pageant, held at Leeds Bradford Airport (LBA), from 1958 to 1962. When the pageant moved to RAF Church Fenton he continued to be the organiser and commentator until 1989.{{Cite web |title=Air Displays – RAF Church Fenton |url=https://www.rafchurchfenton.org.uk/air-displays |access-date=2023-08-28 |language=en-GB}} The displays raised over a million pounds for charity.{{Cite web |title=Allen Rowley – RAF Church Fenton |url=https://www.rafchurchfenton.org.uk/history/allen-rowley |access-date=2023-08-28 |language=en-GB}}
Retirement and death
In retirement in Cookridge, Leeds, Rowley continued to write several books and articles on aviation and rail topics. He died on 8 November 2006.{{Cite news |date=8 November 2006 |title=Allen Rowley Obituary |work=Yorkshire Evening Post}}
Selected works
Leeds-Bradford Airport Official Handbook (1961)
Official Handbook (1965)
East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington (1965){{Cite book |last=Rowley |first=Allen |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/505165323 |title=East Midlands Airport, Castle Donington. |date=July 1965 |language=English |oclc=505165323}}
British Airports and Air Traveller, edited by Allen Rowley (1966, 1967–68,69)
Memory Lane, Leeds: A Collection of Pictorial Memories of Leeds from the Archives of the Yorkshire Evening Post (1996)
Yorkshire steam: A Nostalgic Look at Railways in the Ridings Vols 1–5 (1974){{Cite book |last=Rowley |first=Allen |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/132220745 |title=Leeds: a look down memory lane : a third collection of pictorial memories from the archives of Yorkshire Evening Post |date=2003 |publisher=Great Northern |isbn=978-0-9544002-5-5 |location=Ilkley |language=English |oclc=132220745}}
The Yorkshire Post and Leeds Mercury: The War years (1995)
Almost Forgotten Leeds, film presented by Harry Gration, script by Allen Rowley (1996)
Classic Steam: A Superb Collection of Pictures, Specially Selected From the Archives of the Yorkshire Post (1997)
Leeds: A Look Down Memory Lane (2003)
Awards and legacy
In 1955, Rowley received an award from the American Strategic Air Command for his report on airborne refuelling of B-47 bombers.{{Cite web |last=Libraries |first=Leeds |date=2022-03-03 |title=The amazing career of aviation correspondent, author and journalist Allen Rowley |url=https://secretlibraryleeds.net/2022/03/03/the-amazing-career-of-aviation-correspondent-author-and-journalist-allen-rowley/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=The Secret Library {{!}} Leeds Libraries Heritage Blog |language=en}}
In 1969 Rowley was awarded the Polish Gold Cross for helping Polish ex-airmen after the Second World War.
In 1989 Rowley became only the sixth person to be awarded the Prince Michael of Kent Award for his charity work.{{Cite web |title=Allen Rowley – RAF Church Fenton |url=https://www.rafchurchfenton.org.uk/history/allen-rowley |access-date=2022-08-15 |language=en-GB}}
In 2002 he was made an Honorary Life Member of the Yorkshire Air Museum and Allied Air Forces Memorial.
Rowley played a major role in the successful campaign to save the Tetley’s dray horses. One of the Shire horses was later named Rowley after him.
The housing estate built on the site of the Officers’ Mess at Church Fenton has been named Rowley Fields, after Allen Rowley.{{Cite web |title='Sold out' signs go up at new housing development |url=https://www.yorkpress.co.uk/news/18158461.bellway-homes-completes-final-sale-church-fenton-development/ |access-date=2022-10-23 |website=York Press |language=en}}
There is a gallery of photographs on the Church Fenton website that celebrates Rowley's achievements.{{Cite web |title=Allen Rowley Collection – RAF Church Fenton |url=https://www.rafchurchfenton.org.uk/photo-galleries/allen-rowley-collection |access-date=2022-10-23 |language=en-GB}}
A collection of material relating to the life and work of Allen Rowley is held at Leeds Central Library.{{Cite web |title=The Allen Rowley Collection. |url=https://leeds.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk/client/en_GB/libraryonline/search/detailnonmodal/ent:$002f$002fSD_ILS$002f0$002fSD_ILS:385613/one?qu=The+Allen+Rowley+Collection+1927&te=ILS |access-date=2022-11-11 |website=leeds.ent.sirsidynix.net.uk}}
References
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