Tony Bowler
Hi, I’m Tony Bowler, and my mission is to connect people to support one another to develop their businesses.
But all that has come later in life (I’ve saved the best bit). My background was what has prepared me for this.
If you’ve not already realised, I’m ‘Hull and proud’, as we say around here. I love everything about Hull. I love the diverse and vibrant cultural scene, the business community, the people and I even love our unique and distinct use of the English language!
What I really love about Hull is the sense of community. I grew up on ‘The Orchard’ an estate that was known for lots of things, some of which didn’t give the area a good name. But beneath that was the strongest and most supportive community I have ever been a part of.
That inbuilt sense of ‘all being in this together’ got me through my years of service in the British Army; completing tours of duty in West Berlin at the fall of the Berlin Wall, and Northern Ireland during ‘The Troubles’.
Many ex-services personnel find the return to civilian life very tough after the excitement and jeopardy of military service. I took a very different path to many, and rather than following the well-trod path into the emergency services, I chose IT!
I was very lucky in that career kept me happy and fulfilled for almost 20 years, but as I came to realise that there were fewer years ahead of me than there we behind me, I started asking myself what had happened to the ‘Orchard’ kid? That Tony was always looking to be in control of my own destiny, not afraid to make tough decisions and willing to throw myself into new situations, no matter what?
What came next was a vision and a mission to build a community to benefit the whole of Hull, to create prosperity, jobs, and pride by connecting ALL businesses in Hull. The Business Culture Hull was formed in 2016 and is open to everyone in the HU postcode region without exception. It represents approaching 200 businesses that in turn represent more than 65,000+ employees in every sector and of every size.
I’m also very proud (and thankful) that I’ve been joined and supported every step of the way by my wife, Michelle. She also knows a thing or two about the value of community.
Michelle’s story (as told by Tony)
You couldn’t make this up!
Michelle hails from Downpatrick in Northern Ireland; her mother is also NI born and bred.
Her father was English, a former member of the British Armed Forces. His surname and therefore Michelle’s is ‘English’. Michelle's father changed his religion to become Catholic to marry her Mum, but even so, being a 'mixed' family made for an interesting upbringing in NI at the height of ‘The Troubles’. The only consolation was that her older sister and three older brothers were very well known in the town...
Better times were ahead, as she met an Englishman, Tony Bowler, in Hull while visiting her sister. This former British Army lothario recognised Michelle’s accent from his service in NI. Tony and Michelle were married at Downpatrick, not far from Tony's old army base.
Now settled in Hull, one of Michelle's first jobs was for a firm based on English Street making shortbread for The Queen, working for a boss called, Mr Ireland!
It was definitely meant to be.
Most of Michelle's early career involved some form of support, guidance and personal development with children's social services. She also recognised the value of vocational learning having studied at Down College, Hull University and Hull College to achieve her career goals.
Later, while working to support vulnerable young adults, Michelle would hone her listening and empathy abilities and develop her nurturing and career development skills.
There was never any doubt that Michelle was my perfect partner, not only in life but also for the Business Culture Hull. She's been alongside me since the off, I'm analytical and direct, while Michelle sees the people!
It's testament to the fact that Michelle gave up her career to join The Business Culture Hull in its infancy, that so many people are drawn to its warmth, support, and sense of every member being valued and making a contribution.
