Eileen Bowman, the wife of world-renowned carriage driver George Bowman of Penrith, has died aged 84.
Born on August 1 1937, Eileen grew up in Marlow, Buckinghamshire, alongside her sisters Jean and Annie, and brother Nelson, who she is survived by.
It was 1961 that she met her future husband George — aptly for the horse-loving pair at Doncaster Races. After a whirlwind romance they married at the same racecourse just a year later.
Eileen moved to Penrith and the couple made their first home in Robinson Street where they ventured into business together running a launderette. Eileen later ran her own successful curtain and soft furnishings business.
Alongside this she was involved in helping George in his business ventures.
During the early 1960s he bought the premises where the well-known Bowman stables are now, in Robinson Street, and started a scrap metal business.
That was built up into a big concern, with premises in Carlisle, and then came an expansion into the carpet industry.
George was working in Scotland on a demolition job when a local factory owner asked if he bought carpet remnants. He took up the offer and so started a family business that would run for more than 40 years.
Bowmans Carpets opened at the Townhead premises next to the scrap yard and Eileen ran the carpet business.
As trade boomed, a store was opened in Botchergate, Carlisle.
The Penrith premises later moved to Brunswick Road, which is now the site of Booths supermarket. The business continues to run with a store in Robinson Street.
Along with helping to run their businesses, Eileen was a loving wife, mother and grandmother and loved to care for her family. Their eldest son, George junior, was born in 1963 and now lives in Armathwaite with his wife Jane.
In 1967 their daughter Kathleen was born. She lives in Penrith with her husband Robert Breeze.
George and Eileen’s third child, Barnaby, followed in 1972. He lives in Brampton and is married to Tracey.
The story goes that Barnaby’s name was chosen by George while on a 393-mile route, coach driving horses from Edinburgh to London for charity.
Eileen was expecting their third child during the eight days that George was away on the trip and his name, Barnaby, was chosen by George and his friends who decided to commemorate their journey by naming his soon-to-be-born son after one of the places they had visited.
At the time they were drinking at a pub in Yorkshire and decided upon either Selby or Barnaby.
The couple have gone on to have five grandchildren: Felix, Gabriel and Geordie Breeze; Jack and Eva Bowman.
Throughout George’s amazing equestrian career, which saw him compete all over the world, Eileen would travel with him and supported her husband at every single competition and event. She loved the sport and became very knowledgeable about it herself.
One of the aspects Eileen loved about George’s sporting career was the sociable side of carriage driving. She was always the life and soul of every party and she was also an amazing hostess.
With George competing in many of the equestrian events with the late Prince Philip, who had been a regular team-mate from 1974, they built up a close friendship with the Duke.
George and Eileen used to fly on the Duke’s planes with him to competitions and met the Queen several times.
It is believed the Queen visited their home at Nine Chimneys, Redhills near Penrith, and the Bowmans received a Christmas card personally from the Queen each year.
Outside of carriage driving, Eileen had am amazing voice and loved to sing and listen to jazz music. She performed with jazz bands in her younger years and developed a great knowledge of the history of traditional jazz. She was also a keen swimmer.
Eileen’s daughter-in-law Tracey said: “She was the kindest person, very wise, fun and bubbly, loyal and would help anyone.”
Eileen died at her home on Tuesday, August 31.
The funeral will be held at St Andrew’s Church, Penrith, today.
Donations in her memory will go to Hospice at Home Carlisle and North Lakeland. Funeral arrangements are care of Walkers Funeral Directors, Penrith.
