David Bower My Friend
David was from & supported Leeds, West Yorkshire, with a passion for sport, particularly football, managing Sunday league team Carpenters from Camberley Surrey, when I met David 1983 he was organising the team ,with who turned up for training. David’s enthusiasm for always getting the best out of everyone, with his diplomatic but stern Northern way ,that’s why, being from the North myself ,we always got on, every time seeing each other, he would reminisce on the old times, how good players were. It takes someone of extra special strength and character to say something, to mean it, and then to stick by it. Due I suspect to his strong character and diplomatic Northern nature, David had only a few very close friends, I know that those that were, and count themselves as lucky and privileged to have had a friend in David.
David was extremely patriotic; he believed that England was the best country in the world, if asked he would tell you he was an Englishman born in England.
I looked for something inspiring to write and I believe David is summed up and would agree with this philosophy on life.
- Character is destiny in life. That’s very important.
- Always forgive your enemies.
- I’m in love with hope
- The best things in life are not things.
- The reason we have two ears and one mouth: because we might listen more and talk less.
- Never regret anything because at one time it was exactly what we wanted.
- Sometimes life brings smiles, memories : the tears dry, smiles fade but the memories last forever.
- Science gives us knowledge , but only philosophy can give us wisdom.
- There is no wrong in life, nothing is a mistake, experience makes perfect.
- Keep smiling because life is a beautiful thing and there is so much to smile about.
- Life is short, “Be happy, enjoy your sacred time on earth.”
David died on 15 March 2020.
I know he will be greatly missed by everyone who knew and loved him.
Kind Regards
Geoff Gardner
A short plotted history by Peter Morrison
On the 15th March 2020.David William Bower, long time member of Leeds 60’s bands, The Cherokees and New York Public Library, passed away peacefully in his now home town Victoria, Vancouver Island, Canada.
Son of Marjorie and Bill, Yorkshire lad David was brought up in Leeds and was a founder member of the Cherokees, along with John Woollard, Tez Stokes, Mick Sweeney and Jim Green and Jeff Hale, eventually as roadie. His father, Bill was a great provider for the group, ferrying them about, early on and lending money to buy a van and equipment, when they turned professional and moving to London. Under the guidance of Mickey Most, they had a hit with 7 Golden Daffodils and as New York Public Library. With “Land of a 1000 Dances” and “I Ain’t Gonna Eat Out My Heart Anymore”. As NYPL they recorded 4 albums in all. 2 oin the US and 2 in the UK. The first album Raw Holly was released in the US and the single “Raining In My Heart” became Tony Blackburn’s Record of the week.
In 1975 David drew the long straw and went to Tokyo after we entered one of our songs “Round and Round” in The Tokyo Song Festival. It was sung by American Miss USA contestant, Susan Anton. It came 3rd. The Three Degrees came 1st with “When Will I See You Again”.
In the late 70s David Bower, Peter Morrison and John Woollard formed BMW and toured the folk clubs in England, singing their own compositions.
David’s love of music was profound, but it was his love of melody and vocal harmony that was closest to his heart. A thing BMW did in abundance.
He also had great love for fast cars and when I met David in 1966, he was sporting a MGB roadster. That was a quick car. I remember very early one Sunday morning travelling from Camberley to Leeds in it, in 2 1/2 hours, before the M25 was built. He had lots of faster cars than that later, but none equalled that MGB.
His third love was football. He attended many games at Elland Road and became good friends of Paul Reaney. He played in goals for a local Camberley team for many years before he moved to Canada.
His 4th love was girls, but that’s for another publication.
He also did a lot of horse riding and later on in the 80’s, he took up sailing. I remember him going to buy a yacht in Florida, because they were cheaper there. He managed to get one and with 2 of his mates, sailed across the Atlantic. On his way, they met a huge storm in the Bermuda triangle and lost half the mast and the electronic guidance system. They made their way back on the stars and charts. It was “The old fashioned way”, something David was always good at.. The boat was so badly damaged; it was only worth a fraction of its estimated value in the UK. A bad day at the office.
David and I wrote, recorded and performed a lot of songs together over the years, until the time came when he moved to Canada to find his fortune and eventually found a new lady, Beverley, also a Yorkshire lass.
In a beautiful house on The Malahat, he and Beverley made home, with Mildred their dog. He built a recording studio, recording many artists from that part of Canada and using amazing musicians.
I never forget going there recording some of my songs, which led to David and I once again collaborating in song writing over the internet, until only a few weeks before he passed away. A great talent gone but never forgotten.
Peter Morrison
David Bower by Alan Harrington
David was my friend for 49 years who I first met when I was just 7 years old. He went out with my sister for a time which is how we met. He was an only child and we became his extended family, but to me he was like a brother. He often referred to me as his little brother. When I was growing up, he was my male mentor who I looked up to for guidance and advice which continued to the present day. I felt inspired by him when I was young, he drove nice cars, played football, even taking me to professional games and he encouraged me to learn sailing which was one of his past times. David was fun, happy, and ambitious who seeked new challenges. He was a caring person who enjoyed life with those that he loved and respected. I take comfort knowing that his love is eternal. He will be greatly missed but I have cherished memories. He will always be loved.
