Writing points to a creative soul
By Emma Bache
In the latest of our graphology series, Emma Bache unlocks the secret of one of the UK's great train spotters. Worryingly, for someone intimately associated with Britain's railways, this person has "a tendency to exaggerate and delve into the realms of fantasy".
Life and career of Richard Bowker
Richard Bowker, 37 next month, took over at the Strategic Rail Authority in December 2001. He joined London Underground as a finance trainee in 1989 and qualified as a chartered management accountant in 1993. He moved to Babcock and Brown, the banking group, in 1996 and was seconded to Virgin Rail the following year. In 1999 he helped to set up Quasar Associates, specialising in rail industry commercial and financing work.
In 2000, Bowker was appointed commercial director for Virgin Group with responsibility for Virgin's transport interests, notably Virgin Rail, of which he was co-chairman. He brought Virgin's dress-down style with him to the SRA, declaring: "It's Gap shirts and chinos from now on."
Charming and witty, this is someone who relishes their own eccentricities. Bache writes:
"Underneath the confident exterior lies a more modest individual who feels under pressure to make an impression on others in order to win recognition. Despite their wavering self perception, there is a courage and determination to the personality which makes them independent of thought and imaginative, if a little idealistic.
Close working colleagues soon realise this is someone who is not keen to be pinned down and can be a little unpredictable with their ideas but to be close to someone so imaginative is creative and stimulating in itself."
In the latest in an occasional series, our resident graphologist delivers her verdict on Richard Bowker, chairman of the Strategic Rail Authority.
THE first thing that catches one’s eye with this handwriting is the large and inflated upper zone loops. There is no doubt that this writer displays ambition and lofty ideals, but the voluptuous forms also point to a desire for self-demonstration. There is a boldness to the personality certainly, but also a tendency to exaggerate and delve into the realms of fantasy or at least daydream.
The middle zone is small by comparison, but of a high form standard, which indicates that this embellished upper zone may well compensate for the writer’s lesser-known anxiety and occasional feelings of inferiority. In fact they often privately underrate themselves, particularly with day-to-day activities, and prefer to immerse themselves with more creative problems.
The writer is a connoisseur of the polished self-image. Quite charming in all social situations with a well-developed sense of humour, they in fact strive to be different from others and relish their own eccentricities. There is a slightly reclined slant to the writing, but even this is variable and irregular. Moods and emotions can be somewhat erratic, but they are aware of their own inconsistencies and the healthy spacing between the words on a horizontal level and the pasty but firm pressure of the pen shows us a real desire for contact with others and enjoyment of new situations and people.
Underneath the confident exterior lies a more modest individual who feels under pressure to make an impression on others in order to win recognition. Much time and effort is given to the development of their own inner resources, but the occasional tangling of letters demonstrates a person who through their own original and lively thought processes can display a lack of clarity of purpose and organisation. Much emphasis is placed on feelings, which lend them a very sympathetic and compassionate approach to others, but they are also highly intuitive and can give rather impulsive responses to people and events.
Both at home and at work they value sustained relationships and the wide left margin is another indicator of vitality and a need to communicate. Despite their wavering self- perception, there is a courage and determination to the personality, which makes them independent of thought and imaginative, if a little idealistic.
The connective strokes are thread-like and speedy. At times the writer can be over-sensitive and highly impressionable. However, these same traits also make them innately curious about everything and everyone around them. The writer seeks variety in life and the freedom to operate in their own, at times, eccentric fashion. Their quick and vacillating mind allows them to cope with several projects at once.
As well as the loops in the upper zone, there are also tall strokes in the upper zone which bend both to the right and more unusually, to the left. The writer is culturally and socially aware, but also flirtatious and fun loving. The lower zone strokes show variation, but for the main part are long and sometimes blunt. A dreamer the writer may be, but this is tempered by a firm materialistic approach and a more down-to-earth attitude towards money. In combination with the small middle zone, it is evident there is good business sense and a keen desire to preserve without undue risk-taking. The difference in length of strokes in both the upper and lower zones can point to an individual who is not easily satisfied, an entrepreneurial type who makes the most of their non-conformity.
Close working colleagues soon realise that this is someone who is not keen to be pinned down and can be a little unpredictable with their ideas, but to be close to someone so imaginative is creative and stimulating in itself. This is a highly versatile writer with a sensitive approach to life and work, but one who is also well able to tap into the more mercantile elements of life.