Hundreds gather to remember Ronnie Bowker
THE West Midlands business community came out in force to pay tribute to Ronnie Bowker, Ernst & Young’s senior partner in the Midlands who died last year.
An estimated 800 people attended the memorial service at Birmingham’s Symphony Hall, to celebrate the life of Mr Bowker, who lost a short battle against cancer just before Christmas.
The event also marked the launch by Ernst & Young of the Ronnie Bowker Foundation, which will continue to support many of the causes he championed in and around Birmingham.
Speakers included Mr Bowker’s successor, Sarah Fowler, and senior business figure John Crabtree, as well as family and friends of the South African, who came to the UK in 1996.
Described as ‘a true gent’ and an ‘adopted Brummie’, Mr Bowker was chairman of the CBSO’s Development Committee, and the orchestra played three pieces of music in his memory, including The Lark Ascending by Vaughan Williams.
Ms Fowler praised Mr Bowker’s support for his teams and his energy. She said: “It was Ronnie who created the success that is Ernst & Young today. He established Ernst & Young on the Midlands map.
“To Ronnie, three things were central: people, clients and his commitment to corporate social responsibility. He was a mentor and role model for so many people in the firm – he was always seeking out opportunities to help people realise their true potential.
“His passion for his clients showed itself in his commitment and dedication to them even when he became ill. The success of Ernst & Young is a result of the relationships that Ronnie sought out.”
Mr Crabtree, a former senior partner at Wragge & Co, recalled the mutual support he shared with Mr Bowker, and the accountant’s resilience and humour. Mr Crabtree said: “Above everything, Ronnie displayed what can only be called grace under pressure. Whatever the situation, whatever the stress, he always kept his cool. He was always calm, always well briefed, and always a true gent.
“We have proud roots in Birmingham and a reputation as an open city. We’re very good at welcoming people – even South Africans! Ronnie became as much a Brummie as the rest of us.”
Colleague Bruce Morton praised his boss’s energy and enthusiasm. He said: “Ronnie believed that unless you filled every moment with something that made a difference then it was a moment wasted.”
Mr Morton said the launch of the Ronnie Bowker foundation was an opportunity for his friends in the city to continue his work in the fields of arts and culture, education, employment and training. There would be a series of dinners and special occasions through the year, with all money raised going to the Foundation, which would be administered by the Birmingham Community Foundation.
