Arrangements for the funeral of Andy Howell
Sandwell Crematorium
Newton Road, West Bromwich B71 3SX
Thursday 11th November at 10.45am
Family and friends are gathering at Sandwell crematorium to acknowledge Andy’s passing and to celebrate his life. Please be aware that capacity is limited at the crematorium.
Everyone is very welcome afterwards to gather at the Old Joint Stock from 1pm to share more memories and celebrate Andy’s life.
The Old Joint Stock, 4 Temple Row, Birmingham, B2 5NY
Andy’s family welcome any tributes, words of remembrance and stories about him so do feel free to leave any messages at the bottom of this webpage. (Please note comments are moderated so do not go live immediately)
Webcast
A live webcast will also be available for anyone who is unable to attend.
To access the webcast follow this link to the Obitus website and input the username and password details below.
Username: lowe3026
Password: 354684
You can login to the Obitus website at any time to view a test connection (and we strongly recommend you do this) but you’ll only be able to view the Live Webcast between approx. 10.45am and 12.15pm on Thursday 11th November.
If you wish to watch the ceremony after this time it will be available again for 28 days within 3 working days of 11th November.
Flowers / Donations
Andy’s family have asked for no flowers to be sent for the funeral.
However, if you wish to do something in his memory, donations will be collected on the day of the funeral for the Birmingham Choir with No Name.
Alternatively you can donate via the link below:
Dresscode
Black is not obligatory – please wear whatever makes you feel comfortable.
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I was Andy’s election agent on nearly every occasion that he stood for election or re-election. Oddly, this seemed to confer on me, at any rate in Andy’s eyes, the status of trusted advisor, though he rarely sought advice from me on actual politics, yet, bewilderingly, did on many other topics.
I was, however, by dint of this status, the source of one of Andy’s favourite stories. Andy loved a good story, and the telling of it especially. And repeatedly. We all must be familiar with that typical Howell conversational gambit : “Did I ever tell you about….” He usually had told you about whatever it was, but that was no bar whatsoever to him re-telling his story all over again.
Anyway, this particular story related to the days when electioneering entailed hanging boards pasted up with a “vote for me” message on as many of the lamp-posts we could manage in the ward that we were fighting for. Andy and I were out and about in King’s Heath, carrying armfuls of boards and a ladder. We’d got into a groove where Andy would shin up the ladder to tie the board onto the lamp-post, with me doing the important health & safety job of holding the ladder secure while he did the business.
One time, and in truth this was an entirely mild and harmless mishap, Andy had gone up the ladder and, the board half tied on, he somehow lost his footing and slipped half-off the ladder, clinging onto the lamp-post in a state of some panic. Panic over, he got his feet back on the ladder and back down to the ground, though claiming, unconvincingly, to be in need of a brandy for the shock. The reality was that the lamp-post was no more than about 14 feet tall, that he quickly got back on the ladder (though could also have simply dropped down about 4 feet onto the ground), and that, crucially, he was never in any danger.
Andy re-counted the tale many, many times, and each time the drama and sense of peril increased dramatically. Latterly, the lamp-post had become about 25 feet tall, not 14, there was a force 5 gale blowing, he had only been able to save himself from plunging to the ground by dint of his own ferocious tenacity, and I was cast as the Machiavellian agent casting caution to the wind and almost causing a by-election before we’d even had the election.
Talk about embellishment. But that was Andy, our greatly loved and missed friend. He had a real sense of fun, a relaxed manner, and a burning-bright gregariousness that seemed absolutely unquenchable. A wonderful man, in whose company it was a genuine pleasure to spend time. I was lucky enough to have been able to spend quite a lot of time with him. I met him first when I came to Birmingham in about 1981, and I’ve known him and counted him as a friend for nearly 40 years.
In the words of the old song beloved of the late Nigel Denver : “so be easy and free, when you’re drinkin’ wi’ me. I’m a man you don’t meet every day.”
Huge, huge condolences to Kate & Kieran, and Andy’s brother Mick and sister Kate. Goodbye, old friend.
Andy was a great guy, I loved his sense of humour above all else. As a Cllr, he treated the staff as equals (unlike some others) and I considered him a level headed, talented politician and a man who should have been Leader of the Council one day; one of the people. He upheld the essence of the Labour Movement.
I was really shocked to hear the news of his passing and all my heartfelt sympathy is too his family. I didn’t see him often but when we did meet up it was always easy to chat and reminisce about the old days in the Council House where we both worked.
Will always remember Andy with a happy smile and chuckle. Always had time to chat and for me Andy was never politically tribal. Like his father, a good man who worked for the good and benefit of everyone.
I find it difficult to believe that Andy has gone away. A phenomenal individual who gave so much and had so much more to offer. Bless you brother my thoughts are with you now and for as long as as I inhabit the planet.
So sweet, so sweet. I know/knew Andy as a dear companion through a multitude of facets. Principally as a man who never hard a harsh word and who embodies the very best of humanity. We would talk hill-walking, wild Werewolf fantasies, the current French political situation, deep dives into esoteric delicacies found in remote Pyrennean villages. Our love and support to Kate and the family. We shall not see his like again.
Such a shame !
It’s difficult to know what to say in these circumstances about Andy , but the holidays in France when the children were
toddlers were something else, always involving Andy serenading the kids on his guitar while they (occasionally) listened .(It’s
fair to say these skills were transferred to Sunday afternoons in The Station pub in later life.)
He also displayed outstanding BBQ skills with obscure French sausages (we still don’t know what was in them) .
He was such an effective Councillor and Deputy Leader , and was committed to fairness for all, understanding the
importance of dialogue ,he was always available to listen; never judging but invariably giving thought to the matter at hand.
Always helpful, wise and friendly with a story for every occasion we’ll miss him.
Our sincere condolences and love to his family.
a wonderfully well rounded character, only Andy could have found a balti restaurant for a political discussion which he did after the 1992 defeat, or room at the Midland Art Centre for the founding meeting of Labour Reform, which he also did. As his ability to get on with a wide range of people whether he agreed with them or not was superb, I doubt if Labour Reform could have formed the Centre Left Grassroots Alliance with the hard left Campaign for Labour Party Democracy without him. But its as a Villa supporter that I have the warmest memories, always ready to go on the Holte End if there were tickets available. No one else I have known had that breadth of vision to blend politics and culture and have a laugh even when his side scored own goals. Which both the Villa and Labour managed to do too often.
I knew Andy from several different perspectives – he is first and foremost a Labour Party comrade, but both of us also worked for many years in the voluntary sector; and we both have a passion for hill walking. It is latter that I have the happiest memories. We are very different in our approaches – as befits someone brought up in a Stalinist household, I have objectives in terms of miles, hills to climb and routes to walk. Andy is the complete opposite – he is happiest simply doing long walks he’s designed himself, miles from civilisation, most often in the Scottish Highlands, usually wild camping with only basic facilities.
I am standing down from the Council in May next year and Andy and I talked about the walks we would do together. Wainwright’s Coast to Coast was top of our list. How desperately sad that Andy isn’t here anymore. But I still plan to do the walk and as has been the case on all the walks I have done since his passing – I will be thinking of him and he will be with me in spirit.
I didn’t see Andy as often as I would have liked but whenever we did meet we just picked up where we left off. Goodbye comrade and friend.
We first met Andy when we moved into a flat in Prospect Road, Moseley in 1987 and taking part in Red Rope Walks found he lived down the same road. We last saw Andy in person at Estell’s 60th birthday party in Bristol in February 2020. We both got elected to Birmingham City Council on the same day – 30 years ago – in May 1991 and later were co councillors for Moseley and Kings Heath.
Andy was thoughtful, humorous, gregarious and good company when “doing a balti” or going for a drink or exchanging views on politics or cooking ingredients over facebook.
It is hard to believe that we will never see him again and reminds us how fragile life is. He was part of our lives for many years and will be missed.
I was shocked to hear of Andy’s passing at only 64. Of course, we never expect those younger than ourselves to depart before us. Andy chaired Birmingham City Council’s Education Committee from 1993 to 1996, when he was only in his 30s. Those were the years when I knew him best, as I was our (Liberal Democrat) Group’s education spokesman. They were the years of the John Major Government, pre-Tony Blair, and Andy and I agreed on most matters regarding education in the city. We were in agreement 20 years later too, when National Express decided to not stop their buses at every stop on certain routes in South Birmingham. Andy and I separately ridiculed this idea and it lasted just a few weeks. I remember Andy as a lovely man. Always pleasant, always friendly and always keen to work with political opponents rather than against them. The world will miss him.
Michele and I got to know Andy and Kate more socially, lately, though we have also known Andy, politically, 30 years ago. I was on BCC’s Education Committee when Andy was chair. He was instrumental in getting Prof Tim Brighouse appointed at Chief Education Officer for the LEA. This then led to a true transformation in Birmingham’s schools.
More recently, Andy and I reconnected via RESEC (Research in Elderly and Specialist Care – a think tank that researches and promotes ), where Andy was a key trustee and secretary). RESEC colleagues very much feel the loss of Andy.
Andy really was a polymath and, as such, was great fun to be with. Humanity’s loss; but, we are lucky to have known him and benefited from his life.
I meet Andy just when I needed wise words and knowledge. On a dark cold February night in a pub,What happened next might be written in a book one day. Like many a firm friendship was made based on shared values and passion especially in relation to people in poor quality housing. His knowledge and passion for our city was second to none. There are many things I could say except, the world needs more people like our friend Andy Howell it would be a better place for it.
I met Andy in the late 1990s through Labour Reform, a “soft-left” group which tried to navigate between turbulent party extremes and, for a while, succeeded. As chair Andy created a warm and inclusive atmosphere, where I immediately felt politically and personally at home. We stayed in touch through the years, and as a member of Labour’s NEC I always relied on him to tell me what was really going on in Birmingham. I last saw him five years ago in Oxford, where we caught up on gossip at a riverside pub. I shall miss his insights into local and national politics and his unfailing cheerfulness and good humour. Rest in peace.
I cannot claim a long and deep friendship with Andy: we used to meet where drink and music were provided,and we got on well. He was a talented, decent, amusing man, whose presence enlivened the atmosphere and he enriched my life, as he did for so many people. I was shocked and saddened to learn of his death. My greatest sympathy to his family, who must be heartbroken to have lost such a very good man.
We were very happy when Katie met her soulmate Andy many years ago. We met numerous times over the years usually at various large family gatherings (Katie’s side) and always enjoyed Andy’s company. He fitted in like a glove with his dry wit and unassuming manner. Brian and he shared an interest in his beloved Aston Villa which he supported through thick and thin – mostly thin by the way. The last time we met was in West Cork a few years back, he and Katie had arranged a fantastic multi day family gathering to celebrate Lanna’s (Katie’s Mum) life in beautiful surroundings in Clonakilty, it was a memorable event with Andy and Katie as terrific hosts. Would never have imagined that only a few short years later Andy would be gone as well. Rest in Peace Andy Howell.
Finola and Brian McConville (Canada)
As a policy officer at Birmingham City Council, I met Andy when he was a councillor and then Deputy Leader of the Council and subsequently as a consultant. His background in the voluntary sector and his commitment to empowering people and communities were always in evidence. But, whatever his many roles and job titles, to me Andy was at heart a passionate change maker who loved ideas and creativity and despised lifeless bureaucracy. This made him a breath of fresh air as a politician to work with.
His recent enthusiasm for the Creative Bureaucracy movement set up by his friend Charles Landry seemed to encapsulate his approach to local government.
Andy loved creativity and culture in all its forms, but had little time for big rock bands, preferring more authentic folk music and the bands you could find in a Moseley or Kings Heath pub. As a political leader, he was constantly asking “how can we do things differently and better?” and relentlessly seeking out interesting new people with new ideas. His office as Deputy Leader was often taken over by an endless series of policy seminars, to which were invited anyone and everyone with a contribution to make.
His collaboration with Tim Brighouse as Chair and Director of Education, overseeing a renaissance in Birmingham’s schools will stand alongside the greatest achievements in the city’s proud municipal history.
He was one of those people who seemed to know everyone – including many people in high places – but he treated everyone the same.
He was a lover of life and of people, with a warm sense of humour and a zest for storytelling. He had a mischievous fondness for political gossip and strategy. But he was rarely cynical about politics.
He was a lover of food and of cooking but going for a curry and a pint was really always about the gossip, the exchange of ideas and the telling (and re-telling) of stories.
Ultimately, he told us all a wonderful story – a story about the value of creativity and ideas and the endless capacity of people to come together and create a better world.
He had a huge influence on me and so many other people and that will be a lasting legacy.
Andy Howell stepped in to the help to steer New Roots through a difficult period supported by staff and board members. Andy was involved in social reform for the best part of his adult life and was instrumental with a number changes in Birmingham both as a Local Councillor and in the Voluntary Sector.
Andy symbolised what politicians should be, crossing the boundaries and supporting the person because of need and not out of tribalism. We often talked about introducing a platform for people who wanted to become civic leaders and how they should behave…..
Andy was a very humble person who sought no accolade and went about trying to conduct social reform in a quite fashion and provided the glue in a number of cases for organisations and individuals to create partnerships. He influenced many changes when he was chair of the Birmingham City Council Education department and as the Deputy leader he reached out to many communities who were not in engaged with Birmingham City Council. He was respected in many communities who held him in high esteem for his work and brokering peace where many failed.
We worked on establishing the first Commonwealth Diaspora symposium in Birmingham and latterly trying to identify Black and Asian civic leaders to demonstrate that Birmingham’s history is and will be diverse. He was also involved in a programme, via the Scarman Trust relating to Guns and Gangs and I believe influenced people to look at the underlying issues and not just the perpetrator.
His quite approach belies the fire in his belly to defend those who could not speak for themselves to influence change. Andy inspired people to become involved tackling injustice. This is what I admired about him. I think he would be cringing with the fuss that we are bestowing him, but richly deserved.
He was great chair who would hear your views, no matter how far fetch they were.
The quite bloke who got things done. Rest in Peace Andy.
Very sad to hear of the death of Andy, best good wishes to Kate and all his family. Patsy Davis.
I met Andy 40 years ago when we were both involved in the Birmingham Settlement – I always found him to be original and creative – on the side of life, which makes his loss so abrupt and shocking. I recognise him in the other comments here – his eclectic perspectives and driving concerns. Few people have ranged so widely over what mattered. I feel honoured to have known him.
To say that Andy will be missed by so many is such an understatement – what a character and what great company whilst making a massive, positive contribution to his community and his city and with such good humour. I vividly remember when I first met him in 1991 when he was working for Outset in Wolverhampton and I had just started with Wolverhampton Voluntary Sector Council. I was doing the rounds to meet people in the local voluntary sector and introducing myself as the new training development officer. Andy was the first person I met at Outset and, after I introduced myself, with a mischievous gleam in his eye, he proceeded to dismantle my pomposity but so pleasantly that he quickly became a key contact and ally. Very best wishes Kate and see you at the Old Joint Stocks
My connection with Andy was via Acoustic Soundboard Forum , to which he was a valued contributor; and in person at the annual Forum weekend meetings – much chat, many guitars, lots of songs and tunes, and pies, and pints, and whisky. Always enjoyed his company and sharing music. It was a shock to hear of his death – I, and many others with similar connections, will miss him a great deal. Condolences to Kate, family and other friends. Thanks for the music, Andy – keep on plucking!
Engaging, funny and a talented musician, Andy was great company. He was also a friend and political kindred spirit to me for over 30 years. He made a genuine impact in the Labour Party and to improving people’s life chances here in his home city of Birmingham, not least as a senior councillor working with Prof Tim Brighouse to motivate change in education. Like so many other people whose life he touched, I will miss him. Rest in peace, Andy.
I met Andy through the TGO Challenge. He was loved , respected and cherished by all his Challenge family and will be very much missed. My sincere condolences to Kate and the family.
Andy was great at the big picture, but on occasion details could get missed – or to put it another way, he was relaxed about how things might work out! For a while we played together as the incredibly badly named “Andy, Wendy and Duncan” or with just the two of us butchering songs by Richard Thompson, Steve Tilston and others. One day he told me he’d found a new open mike folk session at the Tower on a Sunday afternoon, so we duly went along, only to find out that it wasn’t on a Sunday afternoon at all. They had all the equipment though, so we decided we would play to the minimal crowd. After we limped through the set a rather dishevelled bloke from the audience came up and congratulated Andy on his playing – we’d just accidentally performed for Steve Gibbons. Andy, of course, was completely unfazed by it all.
I will miss his unique timings, finger picking, and ragtime guitar just as much as his support in politics, and his unique way of derailing any point with a deft “Ah, but you see…”
It was a fitting tribute to a man who was genuinely good, with great compassion and social values, who clearly loved his family and friends.. Andy hated corruption and always championed those less vulnerable and I always enjoyed our discussions and work together at New Roots and was grateful to work for him. Birmingham and its citizens are poorer for his passing.
Just watched the funeral online as unfortunately I couldn’t get to Birmingham in person. What an amazing send off for Andy – he would have loved to have seen it! Kate, Mick, Chris and especially Kieran did such a great job in such difficult circumstances; something I could never have done.
Andy will be missed by so many people, but he lives on in Kieran.
I was shocked and deeply saddened to hear about Andy. I first met Andy in the late ’80s when he was advising a charity that provided IT training opportunities for people with disabilities. I was working for Wolverhampton Council at the time and together we secured Urban Programme funding which allowed the charity to operate successfully in the city for many years. Since then we met many times, often arguing heatedly over politics though we always acknowledged we were on the same (left and humane) side of the fence and stayed friendly and able to talk about and act upon many other aspects of life. I watched his funeral this morning and thought it was a moving tribute to his life. Kieran, your tribute was wonderful, thoughtful, moving and loving. We are thinking about you and Kate as well as remembering Andy.
Andy often called me Hings. Those family members and friends from ‘back in the day’ will know who I am.
Perhaps it was fitting that I should have an SLR camera in my hand when my mobile phone rang as I might be partly responsible for kindling Andy’s interest in photography. Perhaps it was also fitting that I was wearing my walking boots. I was in the local park where I volunteer doing groundwork and tree care trying to capture images of some late-appearing berries. The call was from another long-time friend who happens to be a Birmingham City Councillor. He had just received an email circular containing news that he thought I should know. Thankfully, there was a bench nearby as I struggled with the shock – and the shock continues to reverberate.
I first encountered Andy on the evening of 5 October 1975. We had all arrived at the block of high-rise local authority flats that in those days passed for the student halls of North Staffordshire Polytechnic. Once I had found my billet, met my new flatmates and we had unpacked our suitcases, we went to meet our neighbours in the flat next door – of which Andy was one. Being from up the road in the Black Country I immediately spotted a Brummie cousin and with us both having a liking for football we hit it off straight away despite Andy being Villa and me Albion.
At college there was a bit of inter-department football and though I was in a different faculty from Andy mine was large and full of talent and so I was soon ‘transferred’ to the Law team where ownership of a pair of boots and knowing roughly in which direction to kick the ball each half more or less guaranteed a place. I played alongside Andy in the back four from where he desperately tried to marshal the motley crew ahead of him and regularly had occasion to come to the rescue of this gangling right-footed left back.
We went to the cinema, had the odd meal out (odd being the operative word – 1970s Stoke was hardly a centre of gastronomy) and enjoyed various bands that played at the Union bar and local venues. Though at the time I was a dedicated R&B and soul boy, I was open to new experiences and Andy introduced me to new artists and genres and greatly broadened my musical appreciation. As the years went by this saw us go to many gigs from folk to jazz and, of course, innumerable Ralph McTell concerts. (Listening to ‘From Clare to Here’ during the funeral was a particularly poignant, if not to say difficult, experience.)
When Andy decided that college wasn’t for him and took a job in London we stayed in regular contact and I visited him there. And at those times when we were back at home Andy invited me to Moor Green Lane where the warmth, generosity and kindness there soon saw me part of the extended Howell family. When after my studies I was struggling to get a foothold in the world of work Andy and Ceri were particularly supportive.
It was Andy that introduced me to the delights of Indian cuisine at the Shalimar Restaurant in Hanley. Ever considerate of a curry virgin his recommendation was Chicken Vindaloo. This led to a lifelong passion and many searches for the perfect curry often with several of the Howell clan and assorted friends in tow. There was also the ritual of the Christmas Eve curry – initially at the Koh-I-Noor and latterly the Shah Bagh on Bristol Street. The passion spread to Andy experimenting with spice mixes and cooking sessions with the aid of an enormous cast iron pot. I still have what is now a well-thumbed recipe book produced as a fundraiser by two Birmingham schools and my kitchen is regularly pungent from gently cooking spices.
Andy was always on the look out for a new and authentic experience and we would excitedly head for some obscure ethnic eatery he had heard about. One that sticks in my mind is the curiously named ‘Paris’ somewhere on the east side of the city where we stepped off the quiet street up some stairs to enter a room crammed with diners. This is where I learned the art of eating with chapatis. One night Andy suggested we investigate a couple of ‘sweet centres’. We took a stroll down to the Ladypool Road where side by side there were two cafe type shop fronts: Imran’s and Saleem’s. These were the seeds of what would become the Balti Triangle.
Andy was always developing new interests. With our mutual interest in music we both investigated hi-fi and spent many hours testing various pickup cartridges and speakers. He got into photography – something I already enjoyed – and we had many adventures, and got into one or two scrapes, out and about with our cameras. As I had built a darkroom we spent much time under red lights with trays of smelly chemicals.
It was at the flat in Overdale Court that I had my first experience of a home computer and when I decided to use a computer for work Andy wrote the specification and became something of a helpline. As a result I was one of the earliest to adopt a computer in my industry. We seemed to influence each other in our interests but although I roped him in a few times he drew the line at getting up to his elbows in grease tinkering with motor cars. This seemed as much an anathema to him as involvement in politics did to me.
However, by the dawn of the 1990s our lives were on vastly different trajectories. Andy started his political career in earnest and my work moved me out of Birmingham. That and our increasing and changing home and family responsibilities meant we saw less and less of each other. And although we ran across each other once or twice, it wasn’t until Andy was settled with Kate in Brighton Road that we picked up the threads again by going for the occasional balti and putting the world to rights for an hour. That Andy had a more than full life was obvious and sadly we were always struggling to get into each other’s diary.
But, curiously, when it came to our developing interests we seemed to lead parallel lives. I knew Andy was doing some language learning because I once ran into him at The Brasshouse Centre where I was catching up on lost schooldays. But with maturity the need to indulge in bragging rights diminishes and life’s details are revealed slowly. When I discovered he played guitar – and I had no idea just how proficient he was – I only mentioned in passing my ‘occasional’ dabbling. (Dabble is as good as it gets.) But when I latterly discovered to my surprise he was also into country walking I couldn’t help mentioning my forays over Exmoor and around the Lakes and the regular hikes nearer home. I mentioned that I had never tackled Caer Caradoc and so we agreed to do it together. Sadly, diaries and then lock-downs meant it never got beyond a plan.
Outside of birthdays, etc., few dates stick but for some unfathomable reason 6 October, our first day at lectures, is one. Now it will have a somewhat different meaning.
So, my old friend, now we are emerging out of this mess I shall climb Caer Caradoc. I shall say when I am going and when I reach the top you are to look for me as I shall be giving you a wave. And then, though I imbibe little these days, I shall take a nip of Islay’s finest single malt and drink a toast to you.
Thanks for the memories – and so very many of them.
NH
Andrew was a such a lovely man . He will be sadly missed.My condolences go to kate and family. I am shocked and saddened to hear of his passing now after all this time.I knew Andrew at the
job change project in1982 as its. He was such amicable man nothing was any trouble for him .shared his passion for the villa.and home made wineHe will be sadly missed RIP
YTS not it’s on my last email sorry!