Delme Bowen is an emeritus professor of

cell biology Cell biology (also cellular biology or cytology) is a branch of biology that studies the structure, function, and behavior of cells. All living organisms are made of cells. A cell is the basic unit of life that is responsible for the living an ...

Cardiff University Cardiff University () is a public research university in Cardiff, Wales. It was established in 1883 as the University College of South Wales and Monmouthshire and became a founding college of the University of Wales in 1893. It was renamed Unive ...

. He was Lord Mayor of

Cardiff, Wales Cardiff (; ) is the capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of Wales. Cardiff had a population of in and forms a Principal areas of Wales, principal area officially known as the City and County of Ca ...

for the year 2011 to 2012 and was an elected Cardiff councillor for 17 years.

Political career

Bowen began his political career in 1977 as a member of

Llantrisant Llantrisant (; "Parish of the Three Saints") is a town and community in the county borough of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales. It lies within the historic county boundaries of Glamorgan, on the River Ely and the Afon Clun. The three saints of the t ...

Community Council.Peter La
''Veteran councillor to ‘go out with a bang’ after 35 years of service''
Western Mail, 15 November 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-20. He unsuccessfully stood as the

Plaid Cymru Plaid Cymru ( ; , ; officially Plaid Cymru – the Party of Wales, and often referred to simply as Plaid) is a centre-left, Welsh nationalist list of political parties in Wales, political party in Wales, committed to Welsh independence from th ...

candidate for

Pontypridd Pontypridd ( , ), Colloquialism, colloquially referred to as ''Ponty'', is a town and a Community (Wales), community in Rhondda Cynon Taf, South Wales, approximately 10 miles north west of Cardiff city centre. Geography Pontypridd comprises the ...

in the 1987 General Election, coming last with 5.3% of the vote. He was first elected to

Cardiff Council Cardiff Council, formally the County Council of the City and County of Cardiff () is the governing body for Cardiff, one of the Administrative divisions of Wales, principal areas of Wales. The principal area and its council were established ...

in 1995, as the council's only representative for the Welsh nationalist party,

.''Delme Bowen becomes first Plaid lord mayor of Cardiff''
BBC News, 19 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-19. He represented the

Creigiau & St Fagans Creigiau & St. Fagans was a rural electoral ward on the western edge of Cardiff, Wales. Description The ward covered the villages of St. Fagans and Creigiau (in the community of Pentyrch) and the surrounding rural area. The Creigiau/St Fagans w ...

ward. Bowen later became the council's executive member for traffic and transportation but, in May 2011, relinquished this position to become Lord Mayor of Cardiff.''City transport chief new Lord Mayor and council executive sees reshuffle''
GuardianCardiff, 20 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-20. He was the first ever Plaid Cymru mayor of the city. In November 2011 Bowen announced he would not be standing for re-election to the Council in May 2012. He claimed to be proud of his contribution, while the council's transport chief, to the introduction of the sustainable travel city programme, park-and-ride facilities and the pedestrianisation of some of Cardiff's main city streets. The 2012 local government elections saw Plaid Cymru lose the Creigiau & St Fagans seat to the

Conservatives Conservatism is a cultural, social, and political philosophy and ideology that seeks to promote and preserve traditional institutions, customs, and values. The central tenets of conservatism may vary in relation to the culture and civilizati ...

. After moving to

Carmarthenshire Carmarthenshire (; or informally ') is a Principal areas of Wales, county in the South West Wales, south-west of Wales. The three largest towns are Llanelli, Carmarthen and Ammanford. Carmarthen is the county town and administrative centre. ...

, in 2012 he sought election to

Carmarthenshire County Council Carmarthenshire County Council ( or ''Cyngor Sir Gaerfyrddin'') is the local authority for the county of Carmarthenshire, Wales. It provides a range of services including education, planning, transport, social services and public safety. The co ...

for the St Ishmaels Ward.''Lord Mayor goes to polls in West Wales''
South Wales Echo, 26 March 2012. Retrieved 2016-07-02. However, he was defeated by the sitting Independent member, Mair Stephens.

University career

Bowen was a lecturer in zoology''Cardiff today – Lord Mayor, market pickle and basement masterclass''
GuardianCardiff, 19 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-20. and later professor of cell biology at Cardiff University until his retirement in 2010. He is the author of several books and research papers. On his retirement he was given the title of emeritus professor.

Personal life

Bowen was born in Glanaman, Carmarthenshire and grew up near

Ammanford Ammanford ( ) is a town and community (Wales), community in Carmarthenshire, Wales. At the 2021 United Kingdom census, 2021 census the community had a population of 5,445, and the wider built up area had a population of 8,285. Ammanford is se ...

. He lived in Creigiau with his partner, Pamela. He has four children.Biographical Note on the Lord Mayor: Councillor Professor Delme Bowen
Cardiff Council website, updated 23 May 2011. Retrieved 2011-12-20. Following his retirement from Cardiff University, in May 2012 Bowen moved to

Ferryside Ferryside () is a village in the Community (Wales), community of St Ishmael (Carmarthenshire), St Ishmael, Carmarthenshire, Wales. It is south of Carmarthen near the mouth of the River Tywi. Originally a ferry crossing, then becoming a fishing ...

, where he had been building a house.

References

External links

Cardiff Council member profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bowen, Delme Academics of Cardiff University Councillors in Cardiff Living people Mayors of Cardiff Plaid Cymru mayors Year of birth missing (living people) Plaid Cymru councillors Plaid Cymru parliamentary candidates