Last modified on Sun 2 May 2021 15.10 EDT
My uncle Steve Bowden, who has died aged 65 from ischaemic heart disease, was a gentle, thoughtful and generous man whose lifelong passion for learning inspired everyone he met. As a cherished and respected headteacher, and then in leadership roles across the education sector, he dedicated his life to giving young people across Wales the opportunity to thrive and succeed.
Born in Bristol to Mervyn Bowden, a police officer, and Jeannette (nee Hayes), a nurse, Steve was brought up with a strong belief in egalitarian principles and the importance of education – an outlook forged by the family’s roots in the mining communities of south Wales.