Search for
Search for
Search forBassetlaw Council duo set to join campaign trail
Sunday, August 17, 2008, 00:00
Valerie and Barry Bowles are combining a five-day political whistle-stop tour of the American capital with a bid to meet the world's most powerful leader.
The couple are flying over bearing unique gifts for US President George W Bush – who claims to be a direct descendant of the Pilgrim Fathers.
And the pair may even get the chance to hand over leather-bound copies of Lincolnshire author Sue Allan's trilogy of novels about the 400-year-old founding of New England.
Bassetlaw District Council has invested £500 in the specially-commissioned present for the retiring president.
Ironically, the opportunity to combine the working 'holiday' with an official presentation came about by chance.
Mrs Bowles represents Carlton-in-Lindrick on the district council – where her retired policeman husband lost his seat in 2006.
Both are active members of the authority's controlling Conservative Party.
And Mrs Bowles played a key role when the local group won the Tories' National Award for Capaigning Excellence in February 2007.
"The prize was a trip for four to the USA to see the Republicans working on their presidential campaign," said Mrs Bowles (65).
"We're going out on September 9 and will spend the best part of four days in Washington DC.
"The idea is to watch what they do and bring home ideas for our own election campaigns.
"We'll see Republican candidate John McCain's headquarters at first hand and will go to both the White House and Capitol Hill."
But Mr Bowles (67) was keen to enlighten the Americans about their heritage by the most direct route.
"I was the elected councillor responsible for economic development and tourism in Bassetlaw when the plans to celebrate the 400th anniversaries of the Pilgrim Fathers were started in 2004," he said.
"Within two years we had launched the Pilgrim Fathers UK Origins Association and I'd met Sue Allan at her first book launch in 2005.
"And we've managed to ascertain that among the descendants of separatist Francis Cooke, who may have originated from Blyth or Norfolk, is a certain George W Bush, the 43rd president of the United States.
"So I thought the best way of promoting Bassetlaw as a tourist destination was to give him copies of Sue's three books Mayflower Maid, Jamestown Woman and Restoration Lady."
There is no guarantee that the Bassetlaw delegation will meet Mr Bush in person – but they believe that at the very least a senator will accept the books on his leader's behalf.
Mrs Allan, who lives near Market Rasen, said: "To have the books given to the President is quite amazing." she said.
The Bowles will be joined on their mission by the district Conservative association's treasurer Peter Wilson, from Hayton, and its deputy chairman Coun Annette Simpson, from Beckingham.
Be the first to comment