{{Short description|British politician (born 1930)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Use British English|date=October 2013}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Sir | name = Andrew Bowden | honorific_suffix = {{postnom|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} | image = Andrew Bowden in 1954.jpg | alt = | caption = Bowden in 1954 | office1 = Council of Europe Member | term_start1 = 1987 | term_end1 = 1997 | office2 = Member of Parliament <br> for Brighton Kemptown | term_start2 = 18 June 1970 | term_end2 = 8 April 1997 | predecessor2 = Dennis Hobden | successor2 = Des Turner | 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)<ref>{{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}}</ref> is a British Conservative Party politician. From 2004 to 2010, he was an international consultant at Global Equities Corporation.<ref name="whoswho" />
==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.<ref name="whoswho" />
==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.<ref name="argus">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</ref><ref name="bbc">[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/politics97/news/08/0801/standards.shtml Committee Powerless to Act Against "Sleaze" MPs], BBC</ref> As an MP, he acted as a parliamentary consultant for Southern Water.<ref>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</ref> He was a member of the Council of Europe from 1987 to 1997.{{citation needed|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.<ref name="bbc"/>
==After Parliament== In recent years he has become a regular on the poker circuit.<ref>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</ref> 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.<ref>[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 }}</ref> He is president of Brighton's Royal British Legion branch.<ref>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</ref> He has also acted as vice president of the League Against Cruel Sports.<ref>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]</ref>
==Honours== Bowden received an MBE in 1961. He was knighted in 1994.<ref name="whoswho" />
==Personal life== Bowden married Benita Napier in 1970.<ref name="argus"/> He has a son and daughter.<ref name="whoswho">{{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}}</ref>
Bowden lives in Ovingdean, Brighton, and is a member of the Carlton Club. His recreations include birdwatching, chess and poker.<ref name="whoswho" />
==Bibliography== *''Dare We Trust Them – A New Vision for Europe'' (2005)
==References== {{Reflist}} *''Times Guide to the House of Commons 1997'' *''Who's Who 2007'' *''Paul Kelbie, The Independent (London), 17 Jun 2006''
{{s-start}} {{s-par|uk}} {{succession box | title = Member of Parliament for Brighton Kemptown | years = 1970–1997 | before = Dennis Hobden | after = Des Turner }} {{s-end}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowden, Andrew}} Category:1930 births Category:Living people Category:People educated at Ardingly College Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies Category:Members of Wandsworth Metropolitan Borough Council Category:UK MPs 1970–1974 Category:UK MPs 1974 Category:UK MPs 1974–1979 Category:UK MPs 1979–1983 Category:UK MPs 1983–1987 Category:UK MPs 1987–1992 Category:UK MPs 1992–1997 Category:Knights Bachelor Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire