A founder member of the Essex Carpet Bowls Association has died, aged 78.

Henry Gowlett was treasurer of the association for 11 years and also bowled for the county.

Mr Gowlett represented the English Carpet Bowls Association and organised tournaments throughout the area to raise money for charity.

He was a dairy farmer for many years at Elm Farm, Bockings Elm, Clacton, having been born into a farming family.

Mr Gowlett also worked for Hasler's seed merchants in Dunmow before being called into the Army where he served six years in the Royal Artillery, five of those in India. When he was demobbed, he attended agricultural college in Lincoln.

Mr Gowlett was a member of Thorpe Farmers' Discussion Group and a keen beekeeper.

He loved music and was a caller at local barn dances and enjoyed sequence dances.

On his retirement in 1980, Mr Gowlett and his wife Phyllis moved to Little Clacton, where he served on the village hall committee and was again active in fundraising at many events.

He also leaves two sons, Andrew and Michael, and a grandson Clement.

The funeral is on Tuesday at Little Clacton Parish Church.

Published Thursday June 17, 2004

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