Harold Bowden

Sir Harold Bowden, 2nd Baronet (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. Born in San Francisco, U.S., Bristol, and at Clare College, Cambridge. Harold variously lived at 'Beeston Fields' manor house, Beeston, 'Ruddington Grange' and 'South Manor House' at Ruddington.

Harold was a keen cyclist and oarsman,

On 11 May 1916 he purchased a new Brough motorcycle, registration AL 4659. It was a 500cc model 'H', which he sold on 22 February 1919.

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.

Career

Raleigh Bicycles

Sir Frank Bowden founded the Raleigh Bicycle Company 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 to 1937.

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 appointed to the office of High Sheriff of Nottinghamshire in 1933.

The Rotarian magazine of October 1932 reports that Bowden was quoted in the Los Angeles Times saying : ... Everything has been extraordinarily well managed. I think a better spirit of real sportsmanship has reigned here than at any Olympics since 1896. ... I know that we British return home with a glow of good feeling .... It will be increasingly difficult for misguided politicians to lead any nation into war after this. Sir Harold Bowden.

The Golden Book

Sir Harold Bowden's achievements were celebrated in 1938 when Cycling Weekly awarded him his own page in the Golden Book of Cycling.