On 14 June 1981, Bowness was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant (DL) to the Lord Lieutenant of Greater London. In the 1981 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in recognition of his service as Chairman of the London Boroughs Association. In the 1987 New Year Honours, it was announced that he was to be made a Knight Bachelor "for political and public service". On 11 February 1987, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II during a ceremony at Buckingham Palace.