Noël Bowater

Sir Noël Vansittart Bowater, 2nd Baronet GBE MC (25 December 1892 – 22 January 1984) was Lord Mayor of London from 1953 to 1954, the eldest son of Sir Frank Bowater, 1st Baronet and his wife Ethel Anita née Fryar.^[1]

Career

He was educated at Rugby School, Rugby, Warwickshire, and later fought in World War I between 1914 and 1919, being awarded the Military Cross in 1917.^[2] After the war, he was invested as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Polar Star of Sweden, decorated with the award of the Order of Menelik II of Ethiopia, and invested as a Knight of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem (KStJ).^[1]

He succeeded his father to the title of 2nd Baronet Bowater, of Friston, Suffolk (U.K., 1939) on 10 November 1947 and was held the office of Lord Mayor of London in 1953. Upon his retirement a year later, he was invested as a Knight Grand Cross (GBE) of the Order of the British Empire^[3] and became Master of the Worshipful Company of Vintners. He also held the office of Lord Lieutenant of the City of London.^[1]

Marriage and issue

On 1 February 1921, he married Constance Bett (d. 27 May 1993), daughter of David Gordon Bett, of Woodbridge, Suffolk, and they had three children:^[1]

• Anne Patricia Bowater (b. 3 July 1925), educated at Westonbirt School, married on 21 April 1954 Group Captain Randolph Stuart Mills, who was decorated with the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and gained the rank of Group Captain in the service of the Royal Air Force, son of Captain Randolph Henry Mills, of Northampton, Northamptonshire, and had issue
• Jane Gillian Bowater (b. 10 April 1930), educated at Beneden School, Cranbrook, Kent, and lived in 2003 at Ford Farm, Manaton, Devon, married on 25 April 1953 Christopher William Restarick Beeson, son of G. E. W. Beeson, of Gratnar, North Bovey, Devon, and had issue
• Sir Euan David Vansittart Bowater, 3rd Baronet (b. 9 September 1935)

References

1. Peerage.com
2. The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30204. p. 7624. 26 July 1917.
3. The London Gazette: no. 40323. p. 6366. 9 November 1954.

Sources

• Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, pages 456 and 457.