Jack Howarth (actor)

John Aubrey Conway Howarth was born at 96 Mitchell Street, Rochdale, Lancashire (now Greater Manchester) on 19 February 1896, the son of comedian Bert Howarth and his wife Amelia Mary (née Townsend). He had two brothers, Sydney and Sam, and three sisters, Ella, Elsie and Mary Louisa.^[3] Howarth went to school with the singer and actress Gracie Fields.^[4]. As a child, he sold theatre programmes at the Theatre Royal, Rochdale.

Howarth married Sarah E. "Betty" Murgatroyd at St Mary and St Peter Parish Church, Hull, East Riding of Yorkshire, on Thursday, 25 July 1929.^[7] The couple were married for almost 55 years until Howarth's death, and had a son, John Murgatroyd Howarth, in Rochdale, in 1930. It was reported that Howarth bought his wife so much jewellery that she had to keep it in the bank.^[4]

Howarth lived at Croylands, Overlea Avenue, Deganwy, North Wales, with his wife.^[8] The couple had a flat in London and a suite at the Midland Hotel in Manchester, which he used while he was filming Coronation Street. His interests included travel and paintings along with cricket and circuses.^[9][4]

Jack Howarth died in Llandudno General Hospital from kidney failure and pneumonia, with his wife and son at his bedside, on Saturday, 31 March 1984.^[4] He was cremated six days later at a private funeral in Colwyn Bay, conducted by the vicar of Llanrhos, the Reverend David Jenkins.^[4][3] The address was given by comedian Wyn Calvin, chairman of the Welsh Committee of the Variety Club of Great Britain. There was one hymn, "Abide with Me", and Calvin spoke on behalf of the Stars Organisation and the Grand Order of Water Rats.^[3] He left his wife £60,000 in his will.^[10]

Prior to his death, Howarth had a lengthy absence from filming Coronation Street, explained by a storyline of Albert visiting his daughter. There was press speculation in several newspapers that Howarth was due to leave Coronation Street and his contract would not be renewed in November 1984.^[11] However, these were disputed by Granada, stating that he was due to return to filming at the end of April 1984. His wife was reported as saying just over a month before his death "Jack has no intention of resigning. He will be in Coronation Street for as long as Granada want him."^[12]

His death meant that William Roache, who played Albert Tatlock's nephew-in-law, Ken Barlow, was the only original actor left on Coronation Street at that time.^[2] The decision to kill off the Albert Tatlock character was made shortly after Howarth's death, and Albert's death was covered in the episode dated 14 May 1984.

A memorial service was held on 19 June 1984, at St Paul's Church, Covent Garden, attended by Leslie Crowther, Dickie Henderson, Geoff Love and David Jacobs.^[13]

Howarth's son died on 4 January 2016, aged 85.^[14]

Howarth was the subject of This Is Your Life in November 1974 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews on the set of Coronation Street. When Andrews said, "I'm taking you to London", Howarth replied "Oh no, you're not, you know." He was eventually persuaded to appear on the show, joined by the cast of Coronation Street, with tributes from stars including Bryan Mosley, Betty Driver, Eileen Derbyshire, Margot Bryant, Thora Hird and Arthur Lowe.

Howarth was made an MBE in January 1983 for his charity work, especially for supporting the disabled and children with general learning difficulties.^[4] He was national vice-president for Scope and left them £250 in his will. Howarth had raised more than £50,000 for the charity by collecting a donation each time he signed an autograph.^[10]