Bill Bowker, who ran distribution firm WH Bowker Ltd and was patron of Ribble Valley Conservative Association for more than 20 years, died on Monday. 18th September, 2017.

He was very widely respected within the business, the transport industry and within his local communities.

Bowker Transport, first set up by his father in 1919, on his return from the First World War and based in Blackburn, started by making local deliveries in East Lancashire and the docks in Liverpool to suit the Blackburn cotton industry.

Bill Jr took over the running of the business, following the sudden death of his father, when he was just 19 years old.

He was later joined by his brother Ken, and his son, also called Bill, his nephews and his grandson.

Whilst still very much a family business, it is now a major UK and international transport and warehouse provider at its nine UK sites and also includes the prestigious Bowker motor dealership, comprising of BMW, Mini, Maserati and Harley Davidson and BMW Motorrad in Blackburn and Preston.

Always keenly interested in politics, he became a councillor for St Luke’s ward in Blackburn during the 1960s and later in the Ribble Valley representing both Wilpshire and Chipping, where he later moved to in 1978.

He later became chairman of the Ribble Valley Conservative Association and later the chairman of Blackburn Magistrates and received a MBE for services in administration of justice in Blackburn in the 2006 honours list.

Bill’s son, also called Bill Bowker, described his father as ‘a wonderful family man’.

He said: “He was a wonderful father who put others before himself, he never said no and always tried to help and support others. We are very saddened by his death.”

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans, who has known Bill for 25 years, said: “Bill was inspirational to me as a young MP.

“He gave me strength when I lost the by-election in 1991 and after a deselection bid Bill became my chairman.

“He rebuilt our association in order to fight and win the following year.

“Bill was thoughtful and a true Ribble Valley man.

Lancashire county Cllr Albert Atkinson, who has known Bill for more than 40 years, said: “Bill has been a tower for the Ribble Valley conservatives, business and transport for years. We were good friends inside and outside of politics.

“All the staff at Bowker’s called him ‘Uncle Bill’. He will be sorely missed.”