Jenics director dies on charity bike ride
Neil Bowler of specialist leisure consultancy Jenics passed away suddenly on Monday aged 52, while taking part in a 220-mile bike ride from London to Manchester.
Bowler was a keen cyclist, and had been participating in the Jenics-sponsored Great Hotel Bike Ride from London St Pancras to Hilton Deansgate, raising money for the Teenage Cancer Trust. He is believed to have had a heart attack towards the end of the first day of the two-day ride.
Throughout his 30-year career in property Bowler was a specialist in hotels and leisure, advising on hotel developments, acquisitions, pubs, restaurants, and sites for sheltered, care and open market homes.
He studied at Liverpool John Moores University, before working across Liverpool and Manchester at Hillier Parker, Mason Owen, and King Sturge.
Bowler joined Manchester-based Jenics in 2000, shortly after the company was founded by fellow director Jeremy Collins. Clients included Travelodge and Greene King.
A statement from Jenics said: “Many successful operators and developers benefited from Neil’s insight, advice and personal approach. Those that knew him will testify he was the archetypal ‘hail fellow well met’, gregarious and simply one who exuded passion, energy and confidence in everything he did.”
Outside of the office, as well as being a committed endurance cyclist, Bowler was also an Iron Man competitor. Around 25 property professionals rode alongside Bowler in the Great Hotel Bike Ride every year; they had previously raised £25,000 for charity, and this year set a target of £10,000.
Bowler is survived by Rachel and their daughters, aged 13 and 11.
Very sad news.
By Anonymous
Great guy, always met you with a smile. Will miss you matey.
By Anonymous
So very sad. My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.
By JV
So sad – One of the good guys.
RIP Neil.
By Robert Newham
deeply sorry to learn about this awful news … thoughts are with his family … a tragic loss for them …. such a dedicated professional … the industry has lost a star.
By Justin Paul
Absolutely stunned by this news. So very sad. He was a top man
By Anonymous
One of lifes good guys. Will be hugely missed and thoughts are with family and friends.
RIP Neil
By Anonymous
Really sad news, Neil was one of life’s good guys and he will be missed. He was one of the nicest and most cheerful people you could meet. Thoughts are with his family and friends.
By Anonymous
Very Shocked and Saddened to hear.
By Edward Acres
Devastating news – my thoughts go out to his friends and family. Neil was a really good man, helpful, fun and generous with his time. I’ll remember him well. RIP pal.
By JR
It was always a real pleasure to meet Neil – what a great guy.
Such a sad loss – my thoughts are with his family.
By Dean Young (LSH)
Very sad news, what a great guy. Always smiling.
By Vicarinatutu
Very, very sad. As so many have said, a well respected professional but more importantly somebody who always had a smile and was always a pleasure to be around! Will be sadly missed. Thoughts with his family and many friends.
By James Kinsler
A sad loss, lovely bloke and great company. My thoughts are with his family.
By Adam Pemberton
Awful news, I still can’t quite believe it. I’ve known Neil for just about 30 years and he never changed. Always positive and everything done with a smile on his face – a great guy and a great loss. He will be missed.
By Anonymous
Such a lovely man, well loved by all, such fun to be with, always such fun, an amazing dad and loved his girls so much, rip xx
By Anonymous
Lovely dad and husband. Was like an uncle to me. He will be greatly missed but had a very good life with amazing daughters who love him dearly and he loved them. Fly high xxx
By Anonymous
Neil, what a true gentleman. An amazing man. He touched the life of everyone he met. Neil is going to be missed so very very much. So tragic. All our love and thoughts are with his lovely family who he loved so much. Sleep tight Neil.
By CG
Such tragic news. A sad loss to anyone that had the pleasure of his company. Going to miss this kind, gentle, funny, family man.
By Dominic Giles
Why do so many of the good guys leave the world so early?
Our thoughts are with Rachel and the girls.
Julian
By Julian Sandbach
A very charming property professional who was always in good form. Very sad news and thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones. A sad loss to all those who had the pleasure of meeting and dealing with him. RIP
By Chris Mc
So very sad. My thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues.
By Bill Morris
Rest in peace matey, top bloke , taken too early, thoughts and best wishes to the family X
By Anonymous
Completely Shocked, such a great guy. Excellent professional with a personal touch. Taught me an awful lot and will remember it for the rest of my life.
By Alex Langford
I cannot comprehend this tragic news, I’m simply stunned by the suddenness and unexpected nature of it. My heartfelt condolences to his wife and young family. Tonight I will raise a glass to Neil remembering his smile, happy loud voice and quietly with a smile recall to myself, and commit to memory, happier times.
By David Thompson
Such tragic news. A true professional who i have enjoyed the company of for over 20 years. Another one of the good guys gone too soon. RIP Neil. Thoughts with the family
By Anonymous
Such a tragic loss and sending our deepest condolences. Nelly you were always so smiley. RIP
By Coops Mr & Mrs
What a terrible loss. He was a fantastic man. Always happy and always great company. A true gentleman, who adored his family. Such a shame that he’s gone.
By Anonymous
Only spoke to him a handful of times but such a lovely man. RIP.
By Paul S
A true gent. Very very sad . Thoughts go out to his family.
By Anonymous
A smile that could light the room up- he was a consummate professional and so proud of his family. It is a shock to lose a fit and healthy young man and whose drive , charm and contagious humour will be missed by all those lucky enough to have worked with him. His love for his family is something I will always remember, my thoughts are with them .
By anon
So very sad, a wonderful man, he will be sadly missed by all. My families heartfelt sympathy goes out to his family .
By The Hunt Family
Tragic – sometimes I struggle to understand how this world works !
One of the nicest people in our industry – what a loss to so many .
Team Fhp send our sympathy to Team Jenics and Neil’s family .
RIP Neil
By David Hargreaves
Really sad news. A true professional and such a nice person. My thoughts are with his family and friends.
By David Roper
Such a shock. Always said hello, always smiling, an amazing person!.
I would always recognize Neil walking down the road towards me, because the first thing I would see was his smile. Neil always had time to stop and say hello, he was indeed one of lifes’ good guys.
For me, I will always remember his smile and make an effort to remember him by trying to smile and have more time for people going forward.
Neil, I will try and continue your attitude in my life, RIP
By Patrick & Nicola
What sad news, as others have said one of the good guys. Thoughts with his family at this tragic time, I hope they can take comfort from the comments here and elsewhere, struggle to think of a nicer person.
By David Meppem
I worked for Neil at King Sturge. Made me laugh hysterically every day. Great guy. So so very sad x
By Sarah Greenhalgh
One of the nicest men in this game – I have drank, cycled, played golf and done deals with Neil (though sadly not for a while) and he was ‘always’ nothing other than a truly great person to be around. Tragic loss. Thoughts to his family – words are so difficult.
By Cotters
Neil was such a fab happy guy. I cannot believe he has gone. My thoughts are are with Rachel and his girls at such a sad time. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him x
By Louise M
i love you daddy, i miss you forever xx
By martha B