Cyrus Bowlt was macebearer for West Hartlepool for 25 years and was caretaker of the Municipal Buildings where he lived with his family. This image is taken on the roof of the buildings.
Donor : Barbara Justice
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Jacob Cyrus Bowlt was born in 1882. Before WW1, he worked at Durham Paper Mills and was a musician in the Imperial Lads' Brigade. He also became a plater at Furness Withy.
The spirit of adventure took Cyrus to Canada where he worked his passage on a cattle boat and settled for a while in Saskatoon. In World War 1, he enlisted with the Durham Royal Garrison Artillery as first a bombadier and then as cook at Hartlepool Officers' mess.
After World War 1, he began his 25 year tenure as West Hartlepool mace bearer and caretaker of the Municipal Buildings in Church Square and he was held in great esteem by members of the council.
He formed an orchestra which played in every Hartlepool church and chapel. In retirement, he became secretary of Owton Manor Old People's Club.
There is an oil painting of Cyrus Bowlt, who died at 83 in 1965, in Hartlepool Civic Centre.
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