 Dowding had been under almost continual criticism from all quarters long before this point ; he was still in power after the normal retirement age for officers , had a prickly personality that earned him the nickname " Stuffy " , and kept tight @-@ fisted control over Fighter Command . He was also criticized for his inactivity in ending the fight between Keith Park and Trafford Leigh @-@ Mallory , commanders of 11 and 12 Group around London . Nevertheless , he had the favour of Winston Churchill and the demonstrated success of the Battle of Britain , which rendered most complaints moot . 
