It is with deepest sorrow we fly the flag at half mast this week at Bowater Toyota and say goodbye to one of our directors, Derrol Bowater, who passed away peacefully on Sunday with his family by his side.

Derrol, son of BMG Founder Raymond Bowater, was the Dealer Principal and CEO at Bowater Toyota for many years. He took on the task when Bowaters acquired the Toyota franchise back in 1990, and steered the business through until the late 1990's. During this time Bowater Toyota flourished, won many awards, and grew to hold the number 1 spot in total new vehicle sales in the region. He was fondly remembered by many of the current Bowater Toyota team who worked alongside him during that time.

Derrol remained an active director of the Bowater Motor Group. As one of his old customers and friends said in the showroom when paying their respects, "Derrol was a good bloke. You know, a real good bloke"

Our thoughts are with his immediate family at this time of sorrow. Two of his grandsons, Toby and Mason Bowden, are apart of the team at Bowater Toyota and are continuing his legacy within the family business.  

Peter Ransby and Alan Large sharing a story and a laugh at Bowater Honda. Not an unusual sight on any given morning at 10am, all visitors to the couch welcomed and appreciated. Click to enlarge.

A life well lived, echoing with an loud and infectious laugh, the constant of a love of friends and family, the pride in a garden that fed many a family, a cheeky smile to greet those that walked through the door, and an honest and loyal work ethic is certainly a life well worth celebrating.
This was just a part of the life of Peter Ransby. A man that has been such a vibrant part of the Bowater Motor Group for many, many decades, spanning a time of over 45 years.

Yesterday, at a packed Marsden House, family, friends, colleagues and loved ones all came together to send Peter off in a manner befitting a man so loved, respected and widely regarded.

After a short and valiant fight right up until the very end, sadly Peter Ransby lost his struggle the morning of September 29th at Nelson Hospital and passed on, surrounded by his family and loved ones.

Peter has been such a large part of the success of the Bowater Motor Group for generations, and by generations we mean that quite literally. Peter has worked alongside all 4 of the generations of the Bowater family over the many decades he has been a valued part of the company - working in a wide variety of different roles, in different departments from the workshop through to the showroom floor.

In the days following the sad news of his passing those in many of the Bowater Motor Group businesses across the region rallied together to share cherished memories of Peter. Many have commented on our Facebook post with some very kind thoughts, and flowers have arrived. A flood of humourous stories has been shared at the Bowater Honda showroom in Achilles Ave by colleagues and customers past and present, over a date scone and a cup of tea or two, as we all came to grips with the loss of such a respected and appreciated colleague, contributer, mentor and friend. A new kind of sound has been ringing out in the showroom at Bowater Honda over the last couple of days - the sound of friends and family coming together to celebrate a life well lived.