After training in London our recipient took up his position in 1964 as an assistant solicitor with Morgan, Bruce and Nicholas in Pontypridd. During those early years his practice was varied, including regular attendance at Magistrates Courts throughout the Valleys and representation of the residents of Aberfan in the aftermarth of the disaster.

He moved to the firm’s Cardiff office where his practice became more commercial in nature. He became an important external legal advisor to a number of the firm’s larger clients, including the Welsh Development Agency and Cardiff University.

The late 1980’s and the 1990’s were a period of merger and expansion for a number of regional law firms. Morgan Bruce and Nicholas was no exception. Four mergers with other firms in South Wales, the acquisition of a practice, a City office in London and an amalgamation with a firm in the Thomas Valley transformed Morgan Bruce and Nicholas into Morgan Cole. As Chairman of the Board from 1992 to 1999 our recipient was instrumental in creating the strategy for this expansion.

While managing a very busy practice he did not ignore what he regarded as important roles within he community. He has given freely of his time to many organisations. These include the University of Wales College of Medicine as a Council Member; to University of Wales Lampeter as its Honorary Treasurer; to the Cancer Charity, Tenovus, as a trustee and respected legal advisor for twenty years. He was also a founder member and Deputy Chairman of the influential think tank, the Institute of Welsh Affairs; and became Chairman of Legal Aid Board appeal commitees.

Within his own profession the Law Society recognised his abilities and the respect with which he is held, by appointing him a local liaison officer for the Office for the Supervision of Solicitors and as an assessor for the Legal Practice Course.

He has just completed a seven year term as a director of the Principality Building Society and remains non executive Chairman of Finance Wales Investments Limited, a subsidiary company of the Welsh Development Agency concerned with the provision of Objective One venture capital funds to small and medium enterprises.

In a career which spans five decades, for these reasons and many others we commend JOHN BOWEN as the recipient of the highly prestigious “Lifetime Achievement Award”.

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