Sir Harold Bowden, 2nd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Harold Bowden, 2nd Baronet, GBE
(9 July 1880 – 24 August 1960), was the chairman and chief executive of the Raleigh Bicycle Company
and Sturmey-Archer
Ltd from his father's death in 1921 until his own retirement in 1938. He also served as President of the British Cycle and Motor-Cycle Manufacturers and Trader Union, President of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund, and Chairman of the British Olympic Association
for the 1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
His achievements were celebrated in 1938 when Cycling Weekly
awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
, which is now held in 'The Pedal Club' archive.
, Bristol, and at Clare College, Cambridge University. Harold variously lived at 'Beeston Fields' manor house, Beeston
, 'Ruddington Grange' and 'South Manor House' at Ruddington
.
Harold was a keen cyclist and oarsman, and a member of the Pickwick Bicycle Club, founded in 1870. It is now self-proclaimed as the 'oldest surviving bicycle club in the world' although now predominantly a luncheon club.
Harold Bowden married four times. He married Vera Whitaker, daughter of Joseph Whitaker
of Mansfield
, on 7 July 1908, and they had two children, Frank Houston Bowden and Ruth Bowden before they divorced in 1919. He was married to his second wife Muriel Smythe Ker-Douglas, daughter of William Ker-Douglas, from 18 January 1920 until her death in 1952. He married thirdly, June Bowden MacKay, daughter of Thomas Henry MacKay, on 4 November 1952. He married his fourth wife, Valerie Raymont Came, daughter of Richard Raymont Came, on 11 February 1957.
Sir Harold succeeded to the Baronetcy on the death of his father in 1921 and eight years later he was created a Knight Grand Cross, Order of the British Empire (G.B.E.).
He was decorated with the award of Grand Cross, Order of the Phoenix of Greece.
He died in Winchester
England after a short illness.
in 1887 in Nottingham, and Harold became chairman and Managing Director on the death of his father in 1921, a position he then held for 17 years. He was also chairman of Sturmey-Archer Gears Ltd
which had been taken over by his father in 1902. Under Harold's leadership Raleigh continued to lead the industry, introduced many further innovations and acquired other well-known cycle companies such as: Humber
(1932), Rudge-Whitworth, BSA
and Triumph
. Raleigh also manufactured motorcycles and the Safety Seven car from 1932-1937. By his retirement in 1938 production was 60,000 cycles per year from a works site that occupied 20 acres.
He was President of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund from 1924 to 1926 and the 1925 Banquet, attended by the Prince of Wales, raised a record sum of £10,000.
In 1929 he was invested as a Knight Grand Cross, Order of the British Empire (G.B.E.)
.
He was appointed to the office of High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
in 1933.
He served as Vice-president of the Federation of British Industries
.
, raising over £10,000 to take the British team to Los Angeles for the 1932 Summer Olympic Games. He accompanied the team to America for the games.
The Rotarian magazine of October 1932 reports that Bowden was quoted in the Los Angeles Times' saying :
The Sydney Morning Herald on Friday 10 March 1933 reported that whilst presiding at an Olympic dinner in London, Bowden stated that ... whatever may be felt about the shortcomings of the League of Nations
, the progress of international sport should create optimism concerning the League.
awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(9 July 1880 – 24 August 1960), was the chairman and chief executive of the Raleigh Bicycle Company
Raleigh Bicycle Company
The Raleigh Bicycle Company is a bicycle manufacturer originally based in Nottingham, UK. It is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world. From 1921 to 1935 Raleigh also produced motorcycles and three-wheel cars, leading to the formation of the Reliant Company.-Early years:Raleigh's history...
and Sturmey-Archer
Sturmey-Archer
Sturmey-Archer is a manufacturing company originally from Nottingham, England. It primarily produces bicycle hub gears but has also produced motorcycle hubs....
Ltd from his father's death in 1921 until his own retirement in 1938. He also served as President of the British Cycle and Motor-Cycle Manufacturers and Trader Union, President of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund, and Chairman of the British Olympic Association
British Olympic Association
The British Olympic Association is the national Olympic committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1905 in the House of Commons, and at that time consisted of seven national governing body members from the following sports: fencing, life-saving, cycling, skating, rowing,...
for the 1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
His achievements were celebrated in 1938 when Cycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly is a British cycling magazine. It is published by IPC Media and is devoted to the sport and past-time of cycling. It is affectionately referred to by British club cyclists as "The Comic".-History:...
awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
Golden Book of Cycling
The Golden Book of Cycling was created in 1932 by Cycling, a British cycling magazine,to celebrate "the Sport and Pastime of Cycling by recording the outstanding rides, deeds and accomplishments of cyclists, officials and administrators." There exists only a single copy of this compendium of...
, which is now held in 'The Pedal Club' archive.
Personal life
Sir Harold was the son of international business tycoon Sir Frank Bowden, 1st Baronet and Amelia Frances Houston, daughter of Colonel Alexander Houston of California. Born in San Francisco USA, the fifth of six children, he had four older sisters and a younger brother. He was educated at Clifton CollegeClifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
, Bristol, and at Clare College, Cambridge University. Harold variously lived at 'Beeston Fields' manor house, Beeston
Beeston, Nottinghamshire
Beeston is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is southwest of Nottingham city centre. Although typically regarded as a suburb of the City of Nottingham, and officially designated as part of the Nottingham Urban Area, for local government purposes it is in the borough of Broxtowe, lying outside...
, 'Ruddington Grange' and 'South Manor House' at Ruddington
Ruddington
Ruddington is an English village situated five miles south of Nottingham in the Borough of Rushcliffe. It had a population of 6,441 at the 2001 UK census....
.
Harold was a keen cyclist and oarsman, and a member of the Pickwick Bicycle Club, founded in 1870. It is now self-proclaimed as the 'oldest surviving bicycle club in the world' although now predominantly a luncheon club.
Harold Bowden married four times. He married Vera Whitaker, daughter of Joseph Whitaker
Joseph Whitaker (ornithologist)
Joseph Isaac Spadafora Whitaker was a Sicilan-English ornithologist, archaeologist and sportsman. He is mainly known for his work on the birds of Tunisia, and for being involved in the foundation of the Sicilian football club U.S. Città di Palermo.-Biography :Whitaker's family came from prominent...
of Mansfield
Mansfield
Mansfield is a town in Nottinghamshire, England. It is the main town in the Mansfield local government district. Mansfield is a part of the Mansfield Urban Area....
, on 7 July 1908, and they had two children, Frank Houston Bowden and Ruth Bowden before they divorced in 1919. He was married to his second wife Muriel Smythe Ker-Douglas, daughter of William Ker-Douglas, from 18 January 1920 until her death in 1952. He married thirdly, June Bowden MacKay, daughter of Thomas Henry MacKay, on 4 November 1952. He married his fourth wife, Valerie Raymont Came, daughter of Richard Raymont Came, on 11 February 1957.
Sir Harold succeeded to the Baronetcy on the death of his father in 1921 and eight years later he was created a Knight Grand Cross, Order of the British Empire (G.B.E.).
He was decorated with the award of Grand Cross, Order of the Phoenix of Greece.
He died in Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
England after a short illness.
Raleigh Bicycles
Sir Frank Bowden founded the Raleigh Bicycle CompanyRaleigh Bicycle Company
The Raleigh Bicycle Company is a bicycle manufacturer originally based in Nottingham, UK. It is one of the oldest bicycle companies in the world. From 1921 to 1935 Raleigh also produced motorcycles and three-wheel cars, leading to the formation of the Reliant Company.-Early years:Raleigh's history...
in 1887 in Nottingham, and Harold became chairman and Managing Director on the death of his father in 1921, a position he then held for 17 years. He was also chairman of Sturmey-Archer Gears Ltd
Sturmey-Archer
Sturmey-Archer is a manufacturing company originally from Nottingham, England. It primarily produces bicycle hub gears but has also produced motorcycle hubs....
which had been taken over by his father in 1902. Under Harold's leadership Raleigh continued to lead the industry, introduced many further innovations and acquired other well-known cycle companies such as: Humber
Humber (bicycle)
Humber is an English brand of bicycle.One model is the Humber Sport 3-speed pictured on this page. It includes an unusual fork design, called "Duplex", in which each blade consist of two separate tubes, and a stylish chainring that includes the shape of five persons.-History:Made by Humber car...
(1932), Rudge-Whitworth, BSA
Birmingham Small Arms Company
This article is not about Gamo subsidiary BSA Guns Limited of Armoury Road, Small Heath, Birmingham B11 2PP or BSA Company or its successors....
and Triumph
Triumph Cycle
Triumph Cycle Co. Ltd., based in Nottingham, England, was a bicycle manufacturing company.-History:The genesis of what would become Triumph Cycle Company began during 1884 when Siegfried Bettmann emigrated to Coventry in England from Nuremberg, part of the German Empire. In 1885, aged 20 years,...
. Raleigh also manufactured motorcycles and the Safety Seven car from 1932-1937. By his retirement in 1938 production was 60,000 cycles per year from a works site that occupied 20 acres.
Service appointments
He was elected as President of the British Cycle & Motor Cycle Manufacturers' & Trader' Union on two occasions, holding office from 1921 to 1923.He was President of the Motor and Cycle Trades Benevolent Fund from 1924 to 1926 and the 1925 Banquet, attended by the Prince of Wales, raised a record sum of £10,000.
In 1929 he was invested as a Knight Grand Cross, Order of the British Empire (G.B.E.)
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
He was appointed to the office of High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire
’The High Sheriff is the oldest secular office under the Crown. Formerly the High Sheriff was the principal law enforcement officer in the county but over the centuries most of the responsibilities associated with the post have been transferred elsewhere or are now defunct, so that its functions...
in 1933.
He served as Vice-president of the Federation of British Industries
Federation of British Industries
The Federation of British Industries was founded by the Midlands industrialist Dudley Docker in 1916. It was composed of 124 firms which all gave £1,000 for its foundation. The FBI never took part in labour relations but progressively involved in tariff reform...
.
1932 Olympics
From 1930-1934 he served as Chairman of the British Olympic AssociationBritish Olympic Association
The British Olympic Association is the national Olympic committee for Great Britain and Northern Ireland. It was formed in 1905 in the House of Commons, and at that time consisted of seven national governing body members from the following sports: fencing, life-saving, cycling, skating, rowing,...
, raising over £10,000 to take the British team to Los Angeles for the 1932 Summer Olympic Games. He accompanied the team to America for the games.
The Rotarian magazine of October 1932 reports that Bowden was quoted in the Los Angeles Times' saying :
The Sydney Morning Herald on Friday 10 March 1933 reported that whilst presiding at an Olympic dinner in London, Bowden stated that ... whatever may be felt about the shortcomings of the League of Nations
League of Nations
The League of Nations was an intergovernmental organization founded as a result of the Paris Peace Conference that ended the First World War. It was the first permanent international organization whose principal mission was to maintain world peace...
, the progress of international sport should create optimism concerning the League.
The Golden Book
Sir Harold Bowden's achievements were celebrated in 1938 when Cycling WeeklyCycling Weekly
Cycling Weekly is a British cycling magazine. It is published by IPC Media and is devoted to the sport and past-time of cycling. It is affectionately referred to by British club cyclists as "The Comic".-History:...
awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling
Golden Book of Cycling
The Golden Book of Cycling was created in 1932 by Cycling, a British cycling magazine,to celebrate "the Sport and Pastime of Cycling by recording the outstanding rides, deeds and accomplishments of cyclists, officials and administrators." There exists only a single copy of this compendium of...
.
External links
- Raleigh Bikes
- Picture of Sir Harold Bowden, 1955
- Bowden coat of arms and peerage
- Nottinghamshire.gov.uk History. Wheels of Fortune - The Story of Raleigh Cycles of Nottingham - Raleigh Safety Seven automobile
- German ambassador Leopold von Hoesch (1881 ? 1936, left) with Sir Harold Bowden, Chairman of the British Olympic Association, during a BOA dinner at the Savoy Hotel, London, 8 March 1933. (Photo by A. Hudson/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
- National Portrait gallery, 5 portraits of Sir Harold Bowden
- National Portrait Gallery, Muriel Smythe (née Ker-Douglas), Lady Bowden (died 1952), Second wife of Sir Harold Bowden, 2nd Bt; daughter of William Ker-Douglas
- Lady Amelia Frances Bowden (née Houston) (died 1937), Wife of Sir Frank Bowden, 1st Bt; daughter of Alex Houston