John Dykes Bower

DYKES BOWER, (Sir) John. b. Gloucester, 13 August 1905; d. Orpington, Kent, 29 May 1981. ‘DB’ (as he was universally known) was one of four unmarried sons of a Gloucester ophthalmic surgeon who was a keen amateur musician (great-grandson of John Bacchus Dykes*): all four were not only distinguished in their chosen professions but inherited their father’s skill in music and interest in architecture. In particular, Stephen Dykes Bower (1908-94) was a talented amateur organist and by profession an ecclesiastical architect highly regarded for his work at Westminster Abbey and elsewhere. A church organist at the age of nine, John Dykes Bower was an articled pupil of the organist of Gloucester...