HASTINGS AND ST LEONARDS OBSERVER 2FEB1929 AN ENGINEER:- On 22nd January, Mr James Bowden of 62 Vicarage Road, died at the age of 76 years. Apprenticed to engineering at the age of 13 years, he became chief pattern maker at the Thames Iron Works, and for the 15 years previous to his retirement,at the age of 72 years, was engineer's pattern maker at Vicker's engineering works, Crayford. During his career he made patterns for the engines of H.M.S. Dreadnought and H.M.S. Thunderer The funeral was on Tuesday at the Borough Cemetery, the Rev W. A. Smith conducting the service. The mourners were Mr and Mrs H. J. Adams. Thornton Heath [son-in-law and daughter],Mr and Mrs H. Veness[ son-in-law and daughter], Mr H Adams, Thornton Heath [grandson], Mr T J Veness, Mr F H Barnden, Mr E Oliver, Crayford.Miss Bowden, daughter was through indisposition unable to attend. Floral tributes were received as follows:- Cross,"To our beloved father,from Florrie,Gertie,and May"; wreath,"To dear old Dad, with fondest love, from Florrie and Bert"; cross , "With loving memory of our devoted father, from his baby daughter, May and Bert":cross "In loving memory from sister and family,R.I.P.[Greenhithe]';wreath 'In affectionate remembrance of dear Uncle Jim, from Cyril and family"; spray, " To my dear grandfather, with love from Mary Ena ,'Little Puss-PUSS'"; spray " In affectionate remembrance of our dear grandfather, from Herbert,Harold and Wilfred"; spray, "Wit sincere sympathy from Lil,Fred,Amy and Freddie,At rest"; chaplet " With sincere sympathy, from G.A. Whitcombe and M S Cullin"; spray"With deepest sympathy,J C Strutt [Bognor]"; spray,With deepest sympathy, from Mr and Mrs Huggitt"; wreath Sincerest sympathy from Greenwich branch of United Pattern Makers' Association, in the loss of one of its founders, 'Bro James Bowden was a straight man' ", cross "With sincere remembrance of a dear friend, from Mr and Mrs Veness";heart," From his oldest friends , Bec and Gert"; spray, With sincere sympathy from Jack"; wreath " In affectionate remembrance of a dear friend, from E Oliver and family [Crayford]";wreath "In sorrowful remembrance from Stanley Collins"; spray, "With deepest sympathy from Mr and Mrs Calloway"; wreath , "With sincerest sympathy from Mr and Mrs Lilly; wreath "Deepest sympathy from Margaret Briden.' The whole of the funeral arrangements were admirably conducted by Mr W E Hinkley of 52 Mount Pleasant Road and Emmanuel Road Hastings. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- James Bowden's wife Sarah born Northfleet Kent to George and Sarah [nee Smith] Smith 1871 CENSUS John Street Rochester James Bowden aged 18 years was a Wood Pattern Maker in Iron Factory. CAN ANYONE GIVE ME A LEAD AS TO WHAT FACTORY OR HOW TO FIND HIS APPRENTICESHIP OR INDEED ANY INFO ON FAMILY I SHOULD BE MOST GRATEFUL. I KNOW HIS WHEREABOUTS 1881 AND BIRTH PLACES/DATES HIS 4 CHILDREN Peter Adams Brentwood Essex