Andrew Bowden

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Sir Andrew Boden

| image =

| alt =

| caption =

| office1 = Council of Europe Member

| term_start1 = 1987

| term_end1 = 1997

| office2 = Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown

| term_start2 = 18 June 1970

| term_end2 = 8 April 1997

| party = Conservative Party

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1930|04|08|df=yes}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| education =

| spouse = Benita Napier

| children = 2

}}

Sir Andrew Bowden {{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}} (born 8 April 1930){{Cite web|title=Mr Andrew Bowden (Hansard)|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-andrew-bowden/index.html|access-date=2021-05-11|website=api.parliament.uk}} is a British Conservative Party politician. From 2004 to 2010, he was an international consultant at Global Equities Corporation.

Early life

Bowden was born the son of William Victor Bowden, a solicitor, and Francesca Wilson. He was educated at Ardingly College.

He started his career as a sales executive. He served as a councillor on Wandsworth Borough Council from 1956 to 1961 and as national chairman of Young Conservatives from 1960 to 1961. Bowden worked in the paint industry from 1955 to 1968.

Parliamentary career

He entered the House of Commons on his fourth attempt in 1970 by gaining the Brighton Kemptown seat from the Labour Party. As well as fighting Kemptown in the previous election, he had fought Hammersmith North in 1955 and Kensington North in 1964. He remained Member of Parliament for Kemptown until his defeat by Labour's Desmond Turner in the 1997 election.Siobhan Ryan, [http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/3706450.Ex_MP_s_wife_to_sue_hospital_over_fall/ Ex-MP's wife to sue hospital over fall], The Argus, 26 September 2008[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/news/08/0801/standards.shtml Committee Powerless to Act Against "Sleaze" MPs], BBC As an MP, he acted as a parliamentary consultant for Southern Water.Anthony Bevins, [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/new-mps-declare-multitude-of-directorships-the-house-of-commons-latest-register-of-members-business-interests-is-perused-by-anthony-bevins-political-editor-1478005.html New MPs declare multitude of directorships: The House of Commons' latest register of members' business interests is perused by Anthony Bevins, Political Editor], The Independent, 13 January 1993 He was a member of the Council of Europe from 1987 to 1997.{{fact|date=May 2021}}

He was accused of failing to register an election donation of £5,319 from lobbyist Ian Greer, who acted for Mohammed Al Fayed, as well as business interests with the House of Fraser.

After Parliament

In recent years he has become a regular on the poker circuit.Paul Kelbie, [https://web.archive.org/web/20100726164130/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/this-britain/former-tory-mp-is-flushed-with-success-as-poker-player-404386.html Former Tory MP is flushed with success as poker player ], The Independent, 17 June 2006 He also plays chess and golf. From 1975 to 1997, he served as national president of the Captive Animals Protection Society. He is a patron of the Sussex & Kent ME/CFS Society.[http://www.measussex.org.uk/About-Us-ME-Support-in-Brighton/meet-the-patrons-me-society-brighton.html Kent & Sussex ME/CFS Society] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120622060539/http://www.measussex.org.uk/About-Us-ME-Support-in-Brighton/meet-the-patrons-me-society-brighton.html |date=22 June 2012 }} He is president of Brighton's Royal British Legion branch.Sam Underwood, [http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/1930214.bettys_40_years_of_fundraising_recognised/ Betty's 40 years of fundraising recognised], The Argus, 28 December 2007 He has also acted as vice president of the League Against Cruel Sports.David Selby, Earthkind: Teachers' Handbook on Humane Education, Trentham Books, 1995, p. 198 [https://books.google.com/books?id=Fbn8u43IeHcC&dq=%22Andrew+Bowden%22+brighton&pg=PA198]

Honours

Bowden received an MBE in 1961. He was knighted in 1994.

Personal life

Bowden married Benita Napier in 1970. He has a son and daughter.{{cite web |title=Bowden, Sir Andrew, (born 8 April 1930), International Consultant, Global Equities Corp., 2004–10 |url=https://doi.org/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U8244 |website=WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO |year=2007 |access-date=13 March 2021 |language=en |doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u8244}}

Bowden lives in Ovingdean, Brighton, and is a member of the Carlton Club. His recreations include birdwatching, chess and poker.