Dr Peter John Bowers, FRCPsych

Formerly Consultant Psychiatrist, Tameside and Glossop Mental Health Trust, UK

Dr Peter John Bowers died on 15 May 2018 at the age of 71 years from complications of pneumonia. He was for many years a key senior leadership figure and driver for mental health services across the North West of England. His entire consultant career was spent as National Health Service (NHS) consultant in child and adolescent psychiatry across Tameside and Glossop (the now-combined Pennine Care NHS Specialist Mental Health Trust), where he was Medical Director from 1993 to 2000. He was dedicated and highly effective both as a medical leader, with patient care at the forefront of his concern, and as a manager. He was Chair of the Regional Group of Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists for many years, presiding over countless quality improvements, strategies, developments and delivery. Peter held strong team values and, in his clinical work, energetically applied medical and neurological frameworks of understanding alongside a systemic and family therapy ethos.

The breadth and depth of Peter's skill set made him a uniquely popular trainer in child and adolescent psychiatry across the North Western deanery. Nationally, he served on the Child and Adolescent Faculty Executive. Many consultants in child and adolescent mental health services remain ever grateful for his wise supervision. His own special interests included working with children with neurodevelopmental disorders and intellectual disability. Before and following retirement, he performed an extensive range of expert witness and medico-legal work, including work with local authorities in family court proceedings. Throughout his life he was characterised by his passion and love of learning, his generous sharing of his knowledge and his humanity, integrity and eloquence.

Peter Bowers was born in Sunderland. As a child, he attended Queen Elizabeth Grammar School, where he excelled in both science and arts. He first took a degree in chemistry in the University of London and then attended Manchester University Medical School, graduating in 1973 with double honours. He remained in the North West to complete postgraduate training in paediatrics and psychiatry, and then completed higher specialist training in child and adolescent psychiatry.

From his childhood, Peter had a passion for the performing arts. His mother had instilled a love of theatre in him. Throughout his career, along with his wife and children, he was highly active in theatre work, performing or directing all year round in productions for the Northenden Players and for the South Manchester Operatic Society. The family home ‘Bowers Towers’ is bedecked with posters and photographs from innumerable productions, in which he played key roles in comedy, Shakespeare, musicals and drama. His last role, performed only 4 months before his death, was as Sergeant Wilson in Dad's Army. He also worked tirelessly for the South Manchester local community. Using his considerable charm, persistence and superbly persuasive public speaking, he secured real positive change for the area through his work with the South East Fallowfield Residents Group, of which he was Chair.

His family life was the ultimate source of pride and joy to him. In 1970, he married Lesley, whom he had known since childhood. They had three children, Juliet, Jonathan and Anthony and he had one grandchild, Harry. He will be remembered with love and affection by his family, by their innumerable friends, work colleagues and by former patients.