We heard from Howard’s wife Alison that Howard passed away peacefully on Wednesday 19th March 2025 with the family
around him. Howard had been unwell for some time, but kept in touch with several pilgrims.
I think Howard may have been the first pilgrim to join us having found our website, which we started in 2000. Howard was all set to come and walk with us in 2001, and was a bit put out when we had to cancel that year because of the Foot and Mouth outbreak. But he did join us the following year and was a regular pilgrim over the next 20 or so years. Given the distance from NZ to UK, that probably means Howard travelled more miles over the years to join the pilgrimage that anyone else has or ever will.
It didn’t take Howard long to find out how the pilgrimage works!
Howard – working as usual, 2002
Howard, leading a reflection in 2003
Or standing in as an arrow…
Howard with Bernie, a year later, same t-shirt!
In 2005, Howard had had enough and collapsed in someone’s front garden outside Caterham!
Approaching Winchester in 2005, with Rev Chris at a kissing gate, the self-styled “Kissing Fr Christmases”
2006, as van-packer-in-chief
And so we might go on… when I have time to trawl through more of the archives.
We send our prayers and condolences to Alison. May Howard rest in peace.
A memorial gathering will be held 11am 12th April 2025 at RSA Birkenhead, Recreation Drive, Birkenhead, Auckland, NZ.
I first met Howard and his compatriot Colin on my first pilgrimage in Wales in 2017. I also got to know Howard as a helpful and remarkable person in subsequent encounters. My thoughts and prayers are with Howard’s family during this challenging time.
Howard would spend several weeks in Europe every year, and we were blessed that he chose to spend 2 of those weeks on our pilgrimage. Somehow his presence was enormously reassuring and I am sure that we will continue to feel that presence.
My prayers are with Howards family at this sad time. May he rest in peace.
Joan Sargent
I got to know Howard on the pilgrimage.
His toughness combined with kindness made him a force to be reckoned with. He was always willing to volunteer for jobs, carrying luggage, not mention providing excellent support for the pilgrimage cooks We had many interesting conversations about his life, the Universe and everything. Alison tells me that he said the pilgrimage was “the highlight of his year”.
Our youngest son Jonathan started going out with Kiwi Kim when they met over 10 years ago in Whistler, Canada, where they were working in the ski slopes. We visited them in Auckland, where they live, during Feb/March 2019. Howard was very generous in allowing us to stay in their Waiheke house and gave us a full tour of the island. I can still see Howard now on the beach when we went for a swim (just found the photos – we drew a kiwi in the sand!). For both Howard and my wife Susan it was the sunset of their lives. Susan was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s soon afterwards and is now at the advanced stage.
Our son Jonathan married Kim in Auckland last year and they now live in Te Atatu. As it’s rather a long way for me, they hope to attend Howard’s memorial gathering in my place.
During his illness I have enjoyed exchanging many messages with Howard. His grim humour and courage always came through. He will be much missed by A&B pilgrims and I’ll be sad not to be exchanging any more emails with him.
We shall remember Howard during our pilgrimage this year,
By coincidence the patron Saint of the A&B Arundel and Brighton diocese is called St Philip *Howard*.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philip_Howard,_13th_Earl_of_Arundel
May Howard rest in peace and rise in glory! I’m sure he’ll have a word or two for St Peter at the pearly gates