Fiona Pownall (9 Jun 1941 - 2 Sep 2024)

In loving memory of Fiona Pownall who sadly passed away on 2nd September 2024.

Fiona was born in Dunoon, Scotland in 1941 to May and Charles. She was raised along, with her sister Moira, in Paisley, near Glasgow and attended Park School where she made several friendships that have lasted a lifetime.

After school, Fiona followed her interest in Geography and Architecture into a role in Renfrew County Council working for the Architect Planner carrying our site inspections, surveys and cataloguing building of historical interest.

In 1965 she decided she wanted a new and exciting challenge and took the leap of moving to Chicago in the United States as she had family there. She started working in the family law firm in their claim department. Fiona loved the opportunities and culture in Chicago and had many great experiences there. It was there that she met, and married Richard and the following year had Michele.

Following Richard’s passing she returned to Scotland with Michele. She passed the Civil Service exam and started to work for the Department of Employment. Now living in Gourock on the Clyde, Fiona became interested in sailing and spent many enjoyable times cruising and racing on the west coast of Scotland.

A few years later she married Peter and continued to live in Gourock but was thrilled to be able to also buy a small cottage in Kames, in the Kyles of Bute where many happy weekends were spent exploring an area she loved. After a few years family moved to The Wirral in England due to Peter’s job. They had several happy years in Heswall until Peter decided to take early retirement and they started their next big adventure, buying Oak Farm in Shropshire and starting smallholder life. This was one of Fiona’s happiest times surrounded by her animals, having a constant stream of friends & family visiting the farm and getting involved in the local farming community. When Peter passed away, Fiona left Oak Farm for Cheshire but continued to work with several farming groups, organising their training events.

Fiona married David in 2002 having known him for many years through smallholding. She spent her retirement working for the local parish council, and as a local primary school governor. She and David also loved to travel with particularly fond highlights being cruises to Canada & Alaska, Russia and Norway.

In the last year, Fiona & David moved to Swindon to be close to Michele, Darren and Olivia and had many good times with family and neighbours.