OLD DERBEIAN SOCIETY
Obituary
John Howie (Derby School 1946-54)
John Howie passed away in June 2008 in hospital in Lincoln where he had lived for many years. Over 300 people were at a Memorial Service held for him at St. Nicholas Parish Church on July 4th 2008.John Howie, who was from Alvaston, will be remembered by his contemporaries at school mainly for his strength, his prowess at rowing and in the gymnasium, but he was a far more rounded & able individual than those memories would suggest and played a full part in all school activities. He was, however, probably the only boy in his year to know how to use the all apparatus in the gymnasium properly!
After leaving school and undertaking National Service, (which he always claimed was spent solely rowing for the RAF), John attended Loughborough College of Physical Education and qualified as a teacher of PE and Mathematics. In 1972, after various posts around the country, he was appointed Head of PE at Lincoln School and remained a much respected member of staff there until retirement. He was very active in organisations and associations in the City of Lincoln and the surrounding area and there were numerous tributes paid at the service to his contributions over the years. John was also a long-standing member of the TA and was for some years second in command of the 16th Independent Company of the Parachute Regiment.
John was married for almost 50 years to Barbara, also from Alvaston, and he leaves her, two sons and a number of grandchildren.
