James Howarth, 1973 - 2024

Not only was James Howarth (OW 1992) a most distinguished and gifted member of his profession but he was a man who attracted both deep respect  and warm affection from all around him.

At Wells Cathedral School “Lofty” displayed all the signs of natural leadership. Popular among his peers, his friends, the parents of his friends, and all the staff, he came to embody the ethos of the school, which will always be proud to count him among its former pupils. An enthusiastic and talented sportsman, particularly in Rugby and Cricket, he could always be counted upon to give of his very best in any situation. He applied the same dedication to his studies and achieved respectable grades a both GCSE and A-Level.

It was no surprise that he should pursue Education as a career. A wish to help others develop their potential seemed to have been locked into his DNA. Specifically he recognised that too large a proportion of the young lacked the support and example James had enjoyed at school. He consequently sought challenges where less privileged children needed both encouragement and support. James was fiercely determined to overcome the obstacles sadly so prevalent in many areas of education, and his career, particularly in his final role as an inspiring and gifted Principal,  was brilliantly successful. There can be no better evidence of this than the video, unsuspectingly made of his moving address to his beloved pupils when ill-health forced his retirement; the video went “viral” and has probably been viewed by millions.

It was my privilege to have been his Headmaster for seven years, and to become his friend for the next thirty. It is clear from the volume of tributes that have poured in since his tragically early death that he has been both an inspiration and a “loving soul-mate” to literally countless. He was kind, thoughtful, determined, intolerant of shoddy work but resolutely supportive of all who gave of their best. It was entirely appropriate that he was nominated to be a Fellow of the Wells Cathedral School Foundation, alongside such luminaries as Sir Michael Eavis, Lord Armstrong of Ilminster and Simon Shercliff CMG. OBE. School mottos might be out of fashion now but James admirably embraced the ancient emblem of Wells, “Esto quod es”,... be what you are.