‘Whoopee man’ turns 90!
The Reverend Alan Bowers with family and friends on his 90th birthday. Photo by Terry Ife ref shs 0371-14-13TI To order your copy of this photograph go to www.sidmouthherald.co.uk and click on myphotos24 - Credit: Archant
ONE of Britain’s oldest practising Methodist ministers has no plans to hang up his dog collar at the age of 90 – and says his birthday celebrations were a ‘rehearsal’ for his 100th.
The Reverend Allan Bowers, author of the Herald’s weekly religion column, enjoyed the milestone with friends and family.
The grandfather-of-one remains dedicated to Sidmouth Methodist Church and wants to emulate colleagues he has known who have kept going at the age of 95. “All I want to do is fulfil my ministry and help as many people as I possibly can,” said the Woolbrook Park resident.
“It was a wonderful time for celebration,” Mr Bowers said of his birthday party at the Sidholme Hotel.
“I gave a general word of thanksgiving to family and friends to thank God for a long life that is still going on.
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“People are now living far beyond 90, so one could say it was a rehearsal for my 100th.”
Mr Bowers, whose fifth book will be published later this year, has an unusual tip for a long life. “Everybody should get up in the morning and shout ‘whoopee it is a wonderful day’,” he advised.
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And does Mr Bowers practise what he preaches? Absolutely – he has even been the subject of a poem called The Whoopee Man.
“I say it, and thank God for each day’,” he added.
