The Cumbrian farming community lost a popular character with the death of Maurice Bowman, of High Crindledyke, Kirkoswald, aged 76.
A man with a dry and irrepressible sense of humour who loved to make people laugh, he was particularly known for his close association with Penrith show and the town’s auction mart, where his stock made leading prices many times over the years.
One of six children of the late Arthur and Constance Bowman, he had four sisters — Alice, Connie, Juliet and Ruth, and a brother, Tom.
He was brought up at Crindledyke and attended the nearby schools in Kirkoswald and Lazonby.
After completing his formal education, at the age of 14, he started work on the family farm and always said his first job was taking sheep up on to the fell.
His father died in 1968 and Maurice then went into partnership with his brother Tom, running a mixed beef, sheep and arable venture.
This arrangement continued until the mid-1990s, when the two brothers went their own ways, with Maurice remaining at Crindledyke.
Maurice’s passion as a farmer was raising top quality prime cattle, and his beasts topped the price lists at Penrith mart for three weeks in a row at least once during the early 1990s.
He mostly produced Limousin cross cattle, and later brought Charolais bulls back on to the farm, having originally used this breed in the 1970s.
Always considered something of the face of farming in the Eden area, he featured in a television advert for the Cumbria Fellbred meat brand, and in Border TV’s Rural Lives programme.
It was in 1969 that he married Miss Patricia Slack, from Bampton, with the couple having met at Penrith Rugby Club. They went on to have three children — Claire, Mark and Anna.
Away from Crindledyke, Maurice was involved with then livestock mart operator Penrith Farmers’ and Kidd’s, and at one time served as chairman of the company.
He always maintained a keen interest in Penrith mart, and greatly enjoyed meeting his friends there.
Penrith show was very important to him and he served as chairman and president of its organising body, Penrith Agricultural Society. He was always present on show day helping out in some capacity.
Another former president, Fred Wilson, of Penrith, said: “He was larger than life and a really good chap. I always had a good laugh with him, and he did a great job as show chairman and president.”
He was at one time a member of a pool team which played for the Robin Hood Inn, Croglin, and very much enjoyed holidays in destination including Russia, Canada, America and Italy — although it generally took some persuasion from his wife to convince him to go.
Maurice also enjoyed socialising and watching rugby matches at Penrith and Carlisle, and was proud to see one of his grandsons, Henry, playing for the county side at Twickenham, where he scored the winning try.
He is survived by his wife Pat, High Crindledyke; daughters Claire Wainwright, Low Hesket, and Anna Atkinson, Clifton; son Mark, Crindledyke; brother Tom Bowman, Newbiggin; and sisters Juliet Shuttleworth, Blencowe, Connie Ostell, Carlisle, and Ruth Vipond, Colchester. He had seven grandchildren — Connie, Henry, Arthur, Jack, Thomas, Harvey and Polly.
The funeral service, to be conducted by Rev Katharine Butterfield, was held at St Oswald’s Church, Kirkoswald. Walkers Funeral Directors, Penrith, have charge of the arrangements.
