Bridgwater & Albion RFC

BRIDGWATER & ALBION PAYS TRIBUTE TO LONG-TIME FRIEND AND GROUNDSMAN COLIN BOWERMAN

 Bridgwater & Albion heard the sad news of Colin Bowerman’s death on Saturday morning and accordingly and appropriately, it was opportune for the players and supporters to pay tribute to Colin with a minute’s silence before the 1^st XV match against Minehead Barbarians.  Colin had been unwell for several weeks and passed away at Musgrove Park Hospital. 

 Colin had a long attachment to the club stretching back as far as 1965 when the club was installed at the Taunton Road (Broadway Ground) Ground where his brother-in-law Stan Innalls was the incumbent groundsman and he suggested that Colin might assist.  Little did anyone know (even Colin) that he would still be involved with the club in 2026 – the allegiance has lasted some considerable time. 

 Colin assiduously tended the Taunton Road Ground in all winds and weathers; in summer and in winter; to ensure that our games could be played.  When the club moved to College Way in May 1994, Colin took up his duties there where the wealth of storage space for both his ground equipment and the club’s shirts was a welcome benefit.  Beyond his groundsman’s duties, he also undertook the washing of the club’s shirts and if you visited the club in midweek, you would invariably be greeted with shirts hanging up to dry in the various dressing rooms.  Colin tended other odd jobs required around the club and was an ever-present. 

 If you visited the club outside of match days, then it would be unusual not to bump into Colin, although if he was not immediately visible, no doubt his equally long-serving little dog (he did have a bigger dog once upon a time) would greet you and lead you to him – either in the dressing rooms or in some far flung part of the club’s premises.  His has been a labour of love and the club wholeheartedly congratulated him when he celebrated his 80^th birthday in March 2019 but he has tried to keep going and last year, celebrated his 60 years’ attachment.  Unfortunately in recent years he has suffered ill-health but has gamely come back from such set backs time and time again.  He has passed away at the age of 87½ years old having given the club some 61 years of his life in pursuit of ensuring that the grounds and the shirts have been maintained in pristine condition.  We will never forget his commitment and loyalty.

 Bridgwater & Albion sends its sincere condolences to Julie, James and their family with our grateful thanks for Colin’s long-term involvement and endeavour. 

 Scribe