Biography

Robert William Bowes (November 19, 1922 – December 1, 1979) was a British actor and teacher whose only film role was as headmaster Mr Gryce in the 1969 adaptation of Barry Hines' book "A Kestrel for a Knave". Bob Bowes' employment on the film "Kes" reflected Ken Loach's tendency to utilize ordinary people in roles to which they were suited, rather than relying solely upon professional actors. It is not clear as to whether Bowes was an acquaintance of either Loach or of Barry Hines, the author of the book A Kestrel for a Knave who also jointly wrote the film's script and was a former teacher. Bowes was in fact Headmaster of Ashton Road Secondary Modern School, Ashton Road, Castleford, (now known as Henry Moore Middle School) during the middle to late 1960s. Bob was the eldest of seven children to William and Mary Bowes. Born in Durham Bob later moved to Rossington, Doncaster when his father was working at Rossington Colliery. Mary worked at the Rossington Hypodrome playing the piano to the movies. Bob became a teacher and married Joyce and had one child Andrew, who following in his father's footsteps also became a teacher working at Rossington Hall special needs school.