I am blessed to know you Steve. And, yes, I am using the present tense deliberately because I am blessed to know you Steve and will continue to be so. When I think of you, all my memories are happy ones, which is not something one can say about many people. I met you through Tony and Kate, (and then Sebastian) when we assembled what can loosely be described as a ‘band’. A motley musical crew, variously called The Mighty Flynn and Trespassers Will. Many amusing public house hours were spent in trying to decide on a name, with your dry wit or raised eyebrows very eloquently vetoing some of our wilder suggestions. I’m not the tallest person in the world, and you were not the shortest, so it could make hugging a challenge, but we seemed to manage. Mostly I remember you in rehearsals, sitting down with your guitar, which you played with the grace, ease and fluidity with which you appeared to lead your whole life. You had such ease-of-being that was both grounded yet light-hearted – something that has largely eluded me in my own life until recent times. My abiding memories are of looking over and seeing you smiling wryly or raising an eyebrow at our so-called musical ‘development’. You and Tony were very different musicians, and characters, yet it still makes me smile to think of how well you gelled, musically, personally and often comically in terms of banter. And what a skilled guitarist! Whether Spanish classical music or jazz, you seemed able to turn your talents to anything. You and I have kept in touch across the years since that time, and adding in the love of your life, Rob, when that happened for you. Yet we only reconnected again face-to-face in 2016. We messaged each other regularly after that, and then when Covid hit we were able to ‘see’ each on Zoom, individually and with Kate and Sebastian. I am so grateful for that. I have always felt deeply accepted by you – just as I am. Truth be told, I am an odd sort of bird, and often I think you were perhaps a little baffled by me – especially latterly when rabbiting on about personal growth or psychological/spiritual issues! But you never judged me and always just seemed to want to find points of identification. Steve, your gentle nature, wonderful humour, intelligence and kindness will, just like your beautiful music, live on in my heart. As will you, Steve. Thank you for being part of my life.

I am sorry I can’t be there today to share this day to remember Steven it would of been nice to have met his friends and see family I haven’t seen for some time now it’s just a shame it would of been under the circumstance of what Sunday will represent. Over the last couple of years I’ve probably had more contact than ever with Steven, calls, FaceTimes and messages. FaceTime calls with kids he used to check in with me to make sure I was ok. He was a caring individual and funny .. we dad laugh at things, his and Rob contrubition to charity has been immense it truly shows what kind and caring souls they both are and always have been. I did make the trip down to Southampton hospital on Thursday the 6 th of October to see Steven. I’m not going to lie I cried when I saw him. He was pleased to see me we chatted in between him napping I showed him recent photos of the children, my son has inherited his height 🤣. He never let go of my hand the whole time except when I nipped to M & S to buy him some trifles and chocolate, which he scoffed. Rob came up as well and was nice seeing him under what must of been an awful time for him. He was a good uncle and a nice bloke in general. The world is not fair and he was taken to soon and has left a big void in this world 🌎 for many people. talking to Rob there will be a good mixture of friends and family there on Sunday which says he was a well liked bloke. I am sorry if I don’t manage to get there I will try my best if only to try the wine 🍷 Please look after Rob everyone, we have been in regular contact and I hope that continues and I will see him in the new year. R.I. P Steven Bowles ❤️ love you

I met Steve quite a few times, and he was clearly a man of many skills and interests. I know that one of his and Rob’s favourite places to go was the Hillier Arboretum, where they were members like Rupert and myself, so we sometimes bumped into them there enjoying the beautiful gardens and plants. My principle memories of Steve were of his interest in volunteering. I remember our paths crossing at the New Forest Volunteer Fair in Lyndhurst Community Centre one January. Steve came up to me at the Schools Energy Project stand and volunteered to do some thermal imaging for us. He and another volunteer then came to my house in Lyndhurst and we had an enjoyable morning doing the training, and having fun playing with the thermal imaging cameras. Steve also volunteered for West Solent Solar Cooperative Ltd of which he was a member, acting as a tour guide at the Lymington solar farm for visiting groups, who very much enjoyed his enthusiastic style of delivery. He was a talented person and will be very much missed.