For thirty-five years, Bob Bowman was Chairman of Carlisle and District Music and Drama Festival.
In 1951 Bob attended the Sunderland School of Pharmacy, returning to Carlisle in 1953 as a qualified pharmacist to join the family business.
Bob’s father was a successful pharmacist, businessman and choral conductor. When Bob rejoined his father in 1958, the family firm was well known and prosperous, but after his father’s retirement, Bob developed the pharmacy business much further, eventually opening branches in Scotland, throughout North Cumbria and in Northumberland.
Bob had inherited his father’s love of music and in his late twenties he began to train as a singer with the distinguished soprano and teacher, Ena Mitchell. He competed in the Carlisle Festival, winning the coveted Dr. F. Wadley Cup for the best all-round male vocalist 1967.
Eventually, Bob became a much sought-after tenor, singing as guest soloist for choirs and as a recitalist for music societies. At the same time he involved himself in many of Carlisle’s local music activities and in 1980 he was invited to become chairman of the Carlisle and District Music and Drama Festival.
Bob’s great enthusiasm and boundless generosity was rewarded in 2012 when, at Buckingham Palace, the Queen awarded him the OBE for Philanthropy and Services to Music and the Arts.
In 2018, in recognition of his outstanding commitment to the CDMDF the committee created for him the position of Honorary Life President.