Captain John Thomas Grenville Bowen Royal Navy

Born 14 June 1932. Joined Dartmouth 1950 and RNEC Keyham a year later. Engine room Watchkeeping ticket in Ark Royal 1957/58. Then two year Marine Engineering Dagger Course Greenwich before appointment Victorious 1961. Oversaw the installation of a steam catapult in the French aircraft carrier Foch 1962-63. 1963-65 appointed RAE Bedford's flight deck machinery trials and development facility for the development of catapults and arrester gear for CVA-01. Awarded £450 from the Herbert Lott fund. Appointed RNEC Staff and visiting professor of design innovation at Greenwich. 1972-1975 Overseer at Cammell-Laird's yard on Merseyside. Moonlighted during his naval career as a boat builder and restorer, raised rare breed pigs and cattle, restored and built houses, etc. A colourful character.