A Tribute to Colin Howes 1944-2026

I am not sure he has got the skills…is he a teacher or a handyman

Colin joined Chingford School on 18th July 1994 as an  Assistant Site Services Officer/Maintenance - one of the comments from his interview was “I am not sure he has got the skills…is he a teacher or a handyman” – well, that was Colin, someone who would use every opportunity to teach someone, whilst fixing something. Colin quickly became a key part of the site team and an active member of the local community.

Following a reorganisation of the site team, Colin became Site Manager at Chingford on 6th May 2002. Then, in 2017, as part of a review of the Trust's central operations, Colin was appointed Trust Estates Manager. This meant he was actively supporting both schools and the maintenance/development of their sites.

Colin’s contribution to school and later Trust life was further evident during his time as a Staff Governor and then as a Trustee of Chingford Academies Trust until August 2019, where he shaped the building programs for the Trust. During his time in the school Colin was Chair of the Endlebury Ward. 

Colin loved a building project and during his time oversaw the building of the Clive Moore Sports Hall, the re-development of the old gym into the library and four new classrooms above; the Forum (covered area near the North Gate); the extension of the science block and a new teaching block (the G block). Over the last few years, Colin was a key member of the team working with the DfE as part of the School Rebuilding Project – the Project Director would often comment on Colin's vast knowledge of the site. In an email this week, she said, “Colin’s dedication and commitment were clear. More than three decades is truly remarkable, and it’s clear how much he cared about the school and its future. To continue working with such determination, even in difficult circumstances, speaks volumes about him as a person.” Colin didn’t get to see a spade in the ground, but the team will work hard to ensure that the building is delivered with the same attention to detail that Colin would have had. The last project that Colin was part of was a bid to replace the roof and the plant at South Chingford. This bid had been unsuccessful twice, but the confirmation of a successful bid came through on 22nd May – his final act, albeit from a distance.

Colin’s dedication and commitment were clear. More than three decades is truly remarkable, and it’s clear how much he cared about the school and its future. To continue working with such determination, even in difficult circumstances, speaks volumes about him as a person.

Colin loved working and supporting others. Colin would regularly tell me that he would do whatever the Trust needed him to do. Colin was still working full-time, often longer hours than he was contracted for, up until December 2024, when, at the age of 80, he decided it might be time to reduce his working hours by one day a week. As was always the case with Colin, he kept changing his working days to accommodate contractors or meetings, so he could do the job the way he felt it should be done.

Colin took part in the Battlefields trips on many occasions and took educational walks with the students to Chingford Mount Cemetery. Councillor Roy Berg emailed and said:

Without Colin’s support, we would not have the annual event of the Laying of Flowers at Chingford Mount Cemetery. When I came up with the idea, it was Colin who thought about having the school children lay the flowers, and in the first year, he persuaded Chingford school to lend me over 70 young people, which I am very grateful for, as this year, 2026, it will be our 12th year.