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Derek Bowdery

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 6:07 pm
by bcss
It is with great sadness we have to announce that the Society has lost one of its greatest friends. Derek Bowdery died today at 1.30pm having been in hospital since Christmas day. He was finally diagnosed with Leukemia on 14th November he has had prostate cancer for over 20 years and managed to control that well but hasn't felt right for nearly 3 years and by the time he was diagnosed it was too late and he was too old at 85 to have anything but palliative care. He really appreciated the visits from his many friends, especially Kings Lynn branch members who visited him or spoke to him on the phone over his last few months. We would also like to say a special thank you to his friend Karen who came over straight away from the States to be with him and helped him do everything he needed to do to get his life in order and who was with him at the end. Thanks also go especially to Keith & Shaun who ran then both about over these last months and his branch members who gave him a lot of support. Our thoughts go out to all of you at this time of great loss.
RIP Derek 1932-2018
Kathy & Keith Flanagan
on behalf of Kings Lynn Branch

Re: Derek Bowdery

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 6:11 pm
by Tina
So sad, a lovely man who will be sadly missed.

Re: Derek Bowdery

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 6:38 pm
by Werewolf
Very sad news.

Derek loved his plants, accrued a lot of knowledge, supported the Society over many years and was always very welcoming and helpful to fellow enthusiasts. A great loss.

Graham Evans
Zone 12 Rep.

Re: Derek Bowdery

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 7:32 pm
by Tony R
It is very sad that we have lost one of the best people in the cactus world today.
Derek was one of my greatest and longest friends in the hobby (ever since he first brought a van-load of ferocacti to talk about at a BCSS North London branch meeting) and I always enjoyed visiting him at his nursery, staying with him and meeting all the members of the King's Lynn branch.
He will indeed be sorely missed.
RIP Derek.

Re: Derek Bowdery

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 7:43 pm
by Chris in Leeds
I visited the nursery a number of times and Derek was always welcoming and friendly the last visit was the day after the national show when I bought some Turbinicarpus plants from him
RIP Derek

Re: Derek Bowdery

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 8:55 pm
by Diane
Such sad news, I can only echo all previous responses, he was a really lovely guy.
RIP Derek.

Re: Derek Bowdery

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 9:14 pm
by Geoff Lovell
sad news of the loss of a 'Catford' boy.
My condolences to his family.

Re: Derek Bowdery

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 9:19 pm
by DaveW
Yes I heard Derek was ill and saw him at a plant sale early last year, plus in previous years at the Cactus Explorers Weekend. I only visited his nursery a couple of times, but it was a magnificent collection. He was a very nice and friendly person and will be missed.

The Mail Online did an article on him in 2009.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... orths.html

Re: Derek Bowdery

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 9:41 pm
by Stuart
Very sad news, Derek's been around in the hobby for as long as I can remember, a regular at the Judges Course and Cactus Marts etc. I'd usually visit every two years after the Spalding Marts and he had some great plants, the only person I've known to flower a Saguaro in the UK. Very sad.

Stuart - Plantlife

Re: Derek Bowdery

Posted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 10:12 pm
by juster
A very sad day for all who knew Derek. I remember visiting his collection, housed, I think, in five greenhouses, when he lived in Catford many years ago. A great loss to the hobby, always cheerful, one of the very best. RIP Derek.
Jean