A public spirited man who served on both Eden and Penrith councils, Grattan Bowen has died, aged 79.
A proud Welshman, Grattan was born in Cardiff and at around the age of seven he moved with his family to Haverfordwest, in West Wales.
There he enjoyed a happy and carefree childhood, playing in the countryside and riding his bike to the coast with friends.
The family moved back to Cardiff when he was in his late teens.
After university, Grattan joined Lloyds Bank, and a long career in the banking sector followed, with jobs in Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire; Watford; and North London. He eventually took early retirement in 1996.
It was while working at Hemel Hempstead that Grattan met his future wife, Val, who at the time was training to become a librarian. They were introduced by friends and the attraction was “mutual and immediate”.
The couple went on to have two children — Kimberley and David — and four grandchildren. Kimberley is married to Penrith mayor Doug Lawson and lives in the Penrith area; while David lives in the West Midlands.
After his retirement, Grattan started taking a serious interest in fell walking in the Lake District and went on several courses to develop his mountain and winter skills.
He completed several of the Cumbrian classic long distance routes at around this time and did the Coast to Coast route in 1999, tackling it again with Val a year later to mark the millennium.
As a long-time admirer of Alfred Wainwright, on both occasions he stuck closely to the original Wainwright route.
In 2003, Grattan and Val realised their dream and moved to Penrith, which they both “took to their hearts”.
Grattan took up a part-time job in an outdoor clothing shop at the Rheged Centre, which he did for several years and very much enjoyed. He gradually became more active in public life, joining Penrith Music Club.
Later he was elected to Eden District Council as a Liberal Democrat councillor. As well as representing his local Penrith ward, he was a member of the planning committee, in which role Val said he was “meticulous”, carrying out personal visits to every application site.
He was also heavily involved with Penrith Football Club and supported them during their move to their new ground at Frenchfield.
Grattan was a firm advocate of Penrith having its own council and was involved in the campaign to get one established. But he took the decision not to stand for election himself, only later joining the new authority as a councillor. He stood down from Eden Council at around the same time.
Other interests in a rich and full life included classical music, about which Grattan was passionate and deeply knowledgeable. He regularly attended the Proms, and when living in Watford would “disappear for the summer” to soak up the music.
More recently he enjoyed trips to Penrith’s Alhambra Cinema to watch opera live-streamed from the New York Met.
He made lasting friendships with other “Promenaders” and once had the great honour of being selected to place the wreath — traditionally placed on the bust of Sir Henry Woods by two Promenaders as part of the Last Night performance.
“I nearly burst with pride when I saw him on the television,” recalled Val.
While living in Watford, Grattan also volunteered with the Samaritans and acted as a prison listener at Bovington Prison.
He volunteered as a footpath warden on the eastern stretch of the Chilterns and also with housing charity the New Hope Trust.
Grattan will be remembered by those who knew him as a kind and quietly effective man, who got things done without seeking the limelight.
A service of celebration for Grattan’s life will be held at Penrith Methodist Church on Friday, April 5 at 3pm. Anyone attending is asked to wear bright colours.
In charge of arrangements are Richardsons Funeral Directors, Penrith.
