Friends and former team-mates pay tribute to Barnstaple & Pilton stalwart Rodney Bowden (pictured) | Cricketbat guard of honour will welcome Bowden at funeral

By CONRAD SUTCLIFFE

IT’S likely to be standing room only at the funeral of Barnstaple & Pilton CC stalwart Rodney Bowden, who died recently aged 73.

Bowden first picked-up a cricket bat aged nine and carried on playing until he was 63. A debilitating stroke, while playing in a match, ended his playing and working careers.

For the final 10 years of his life Bowden was cared for by wife Janet. The couple celebrated their 49th wedding anniversary just a few days before he died.

Janet said Rodney was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, then added: “More than anything he was devoted to his cricket.”

Bowden and Janet were permanent fixtures at Barnstaple & Pilton CC for more than 20 years following its formation in 1992. He had a stint as 1st XI captain; she was clubhouse manager and treasurer for most of that time.

The couple’s commitment to B&P CC was recognised in 2024 when the club’s home was named ‘The Bowden Pavilion’ with their names emblazoned over the door.

“It was a lovely thing to do,” said Janet.

Although the Bowdens will always be associated with B&P, Rodney also guested in Devon League games for Braunton, Westleigh and North Devon before Barnstaple & Pilton joined the competition in 1993.

Janet said she wants her husband’s funeral to be a celebration of his life and his love of cricket.

“There will be a cricket-bat guard of honour when he arrives and anyone coming from a club is asked to wear their club polo shirts please,” said Janet.

Rodney Bowden was born in Barnstaple and attended the town’s secondary modern school prior to studying construction on a day release course at North Devon College. Cricket was also on the timetable, initially with Goodleigh, then later with Pilton.

Bowden worked for Govier’s before branching out on his own as R F Bowden Builders in the early 1970s.

Janet and Rodney met in in a café in Barnstaple when he was 19 and she was three years younger. They married at Barnstaple Civic Centre in 1977 and went on to have daughter Maria and son Simon.

Bowden helped set-up the merger between Barnstaple CC and Pilton CC, who had been rival teams sharing a ground at Pottington.

“Rodney was our first captain when we went into the Devon League and within two years we were promoted,” said Patrick McEndoo, a long-time B&P player and official.

“He was a good player – opened the batting and bowled a bit too – and had a way of getting people to play for him.”

Bowden could certainly play. In that promotion winning season he made more than 450 league runs and took an unbeaten century off Chulmleigh.

Bowden last appeared in the B&P 1st XI in 2013.He was 61 by then!

Inevitably, Devon Seniors came calling and Bowden was a member of the Over-60s’ team that reached the 2012 final of the Spitfire National Championship, where they lost to Kent. Bowden made 104 against Somerset at Paignton on the way there. It was the last of 49 tons he made in all cricket.

Matt Westaway and Jack Popham, both future North Devon 1st XI skippers, played with Bowden as youngsters at Barnstaple & Pilton. Both will remember him with affection.

“Rodney and Janet were instrumental in the B&P club spirit when I played there,” said Westaway. “They worked tirelessly to always make everyone feel welcome and included. 

“Bowdy was  local legend, whose legacy will be long remembered by many in the cricketing circles of North Devon and beyond.

Westaway said Bowden influenced his own cricketing journey both on and off the field.

“I look back on my playing days with Rodney very fondly,” said Westaway.

“Not only was he an excellent cricketer with his attacking opening style, he will also be remembered for his great personality and stories of which he had many.

“A wonderful man who played the game of cricket the way it should be played, competitively on the pitch but with friendship and a beer after.”

Popham, who later opened the bowling for Devon, said that Bowden was unique.

“Rodney was an extremely, likeable and charismatic man who, along with Janet, gave so much to B&P and North Devon cricket,” said Popham.

“Although I only caught the twilight years of his playing career, he still boasted many match- winning performances with his aggressive stroke-making style. 

“Rodney always played the game in the right spirit: hard but fair. 

I will always remember very fondly the many hours spent travelling to and from away games, listening to one of Rodney’s many infamous stories.

“Bowdy had a massive impact on not only my cricket journey, but many others as well. A wonderful man, who will be sorely missed by many.”

Bowden was enjoying an Indian Summer during the 2015 season. In the three games prior to suffering a stroke he had made half-centuries against Uplyme & Lyme Regis, North Devon and Exmouth.

Barnstaple & Pilton were playing Nomansland at Witheridge when Bowden was taken ill. The stroke left him paralysed down one side, unable to talk and confined to a wheel chair for the final decade of his life.

Rodney Bowden is survived by wife Janet, his two children and five grandchildren. His funeral will take place at the North Devon Crematorium on Tuesday, February 10 at 1.30pm. There will be a reception at the Barnstaple Motel after the service.