Last surviving cone worker dies aged 93
The last surviving glassworker to be employed at the Black Country's landmark Red House Glass Cone before it became a museum has died aged 93.
The last surviving glassworker to be employed at the Black Country's landmark Red House Glass Cone before it became a museum has died aged 93.
Ralph Bowater, of John Street, Wordsley, died at Russells Hall Hospital, Dudley, on April 7 after suffering a heart attack.
Mr Bowater worked at Wordsley's Red House Glass Cone when it was still producing glassware daily before operations moved to a newly built factory opposite the site in 1936.
He was the last employee of the cone works known to still be alive but his links to the site continued after it was revived as a museum and studios more than a decade ago.
Mr Bowater was invited to talk to visitors about his experiences working at the cone, and his voice featured on an audio guide to the site.
He is survived by his 88-year-old wife Elsie, son Bill, 64, and daughters Annette, 69, and Dianne, 57, six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
His funeral will be at Holy Trinity Church, Wordsley, at 11.30am tomorrow with a short service at Stourbridge Crematorium at 12.20pm.
His family and friends will then hold a wake at his local The Bird in Hand, in John Street.
His family today paid tribute to "a proper gentlemen" who was well known in the community for his friendly manner and smile.
Mr Bowater was a regular at The Bird in Hand and throughout his life livednear the cone.
He joined the industry on leaving school at 14, first working in a cutting shop doing odd jobs.
When he was 16 he started work at the cone as a taker-in. This involved helping the glassmakers by holding the mould, with a bucket of water ready alongside for cooling.
He went on to become a servitor, shaping the feet and stems of glasses which were then moulded onto the main bowl.
Mr Bowater's shifts were six on and six off between 6am and midnight. After the cone closed, he worked at the Start Crystal factory opposite the site until his retirement. He also served in the Second World War from 1939 to 1945 in the Sixth South Staffordshire Regiment.
His daughter Dianne said: "He was always a happy man and had a smile and a chat ready for everybody. He was a proper gentleman and everyone in the community loved him. He was immensely proud of his time working at the cone and loved and being able to talk about it."
