View Full Version : Alfie Howard has died aged 93
Minnie_the_Minx
25-04-2006, 12:21
didn't know about this. Apparently he died on Friday at King's.
God bless Alfie :(
South London Press (http://icsouthlondon.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0400lambeth/tm_objectid=16987236%26method=full%26siteid=50100%26headline=town%2dcrier%2dlegend%2ddies%2dat%2dage%2dof%2d%2d93-name_page.html)
who are they going to get to headline the windmill park festival this year then?
9 July won't be the same without him
Minnie_the_Minx
25-04-2006, 12:40
who are they going to get to headline the windmill park festival this year then?
9 July won't be the same without him
Never went to the Festival but I remember meeting him with my grandfather (who was also called Alfie) :D
erm, famous Brixton residents? ho hum.... :D
http://www.brixtonwindmill.org/photos/festpix/festtext.jpg
Who would suit wearing red ;)
ChrisFilter
25-04-2006, 12:46
Poor old Alfie.. RIP :(
dogmatique
25-04-2006, 13:16
That's a shame, and a great loss to Lambeth.
RIP Alfie :(
linerider
25-04-2006, 14:16
it's a great shame.but 93 isn't a bad run.
RIP
tarannau
25-04-2006, 14:20
RIP Alfie. He was a good one through and through.
I'll raise a glass to him next time I'm out.
:)
Divisive Cotton
25-04-2006, 14:20
The town crier post took him to 48 different countries.
He had been to the US more than 70 times.
Not a bad age to reach and having done all this before...
gaijingirl
25-04-2006, 15:31
That's made me really sad. :( I hadn't seen him in the pubs for a while, but used to see him all the time!! He once showed me his photo album and he really had met a lot of people all over the world!!
I'm sure he's ringing his bell in the sky and enjoying a pint.
I wonder if they'll have a big old funeral for him - he should have the horses with feathers on their heads type affair!!
What sad news. :(
But 93 and what a life.
RIP Alfie, I'll raise a glass to you tonight in Zurich, where I'm sure you've been in all your glory at some point!
RIP Alfie. He was a great old chap. This has made me really sad.
lang rabbie
25-04-2006, 19:08
Sorry to hear this. Alfie was always a real tonic at any event he came along to.
People had been asking me only this week how to invite him along to events
this summer.
Elvis Parsley
25-04-2006, 19:22
shame :( , but like others have already said 93, not bad.
first time my parents came to brixton i met them outside the tube station, through all the usual hussle n bussle and people trying to sell them travelcards/drugs/reggae tapes/incense, walked Alfie in his bright red coat. "oh that's just the town crier" i said as we walked away. the look on my dad's face :D
William of Walworth
25-04-2006, 20:12
I never met him or even saw him, but Mrs Magpie has told me (and Urban) loads about him -- a real character :( :(
I wonder if they'll have a big old funeral for him - he should have the horses with feathers on their heads type affair!!
Lets hope so ....
dogmatique
25-04-2006, 20:25
If any Lambeth resident deserves one, Alfie does...
Brixton Hatter
25-04-2006, 22:47
that's really sad news.
A quality geezer, I met him a few times, he'd stop and talk to anyone, so friendly. He used to love showing everyone his photos and he had this special one stuck on a card which showed him meeting princess diana when she was fairly young :cool:
a real local character. lived in brixton all his life I think.
RIP Alfie :(
Brixton Hatter
25-04-2006, 22:48
I wonder if they'll have a big old funeral for him - he should have the horses with feathers on their heads type affair!!here here
My mum will be really upset by this.
William of Walworth
26-04-2006, 09:05
My mum will be really upset by this.
Lots of sympathies, I know she really liked and respected him.
I hope she feels able soon to post a suitable tribute on Urban.
spitfire
27-04-2006, 00:04
Does anyone know when/where alfies funeral is?
Minnie_the_Minx
27-04-2006, 10:08
Does anyone know when/where alfies funeral is?
According to SLP:
Mr Howard's funeral arrangements have yet to be confirmed.
Streathamite
27-04-2006, 13:11
how very, very sad. alfie was one of the manor's true characters, and a wonderful asset to the place.
RIP guv'nor :(
Thats so sad, he used to come in to the Bar I managed on Coldharbour lane(about 2002) pretty much every Fri night around 6ish for 1/2 a Stella & to 'ring' in the weekend with his bell.
God rest his soul, a good, kind hearted chappie.
:(
William of Walworth
27-04-2006, 14:09
Thats so sad, he used to come in to the Bar I managed on Coldharbour lane(about 2002) pretty much every Fri night around 6ish for 1/2 a Stella & to 'ring' in the weekend with his bell.
God rest his soul, a good, kind hearted chappie.
:(
Half of Stella??
Always imagined him to be a traditional ale man ....
dogmatique
28-04-2006, 18:03
Funeral's taking place on the 8th, no other details yet.
Will be back in london by the 8th so will be be at the funeral for the old boy..... crikey, 93? last time i saw him he looked much younger than i felt (And im only 27).
Raising a glass here in Bangkok to him too, i'm quite sure he made it down here at some point during his illustrious career.
RIP Alfie. A good soul.
suzee blue cheese
30-04-2006, 18:05
a real local character. lived in brixton all his life I think.
He told me he'd been brought up on Tunstall Rd (if my memory serves OK), he also told me he made that outfit himself. He was indeed one of the most amiable and welcoming faces in Brixton.
Dear Alfie RIP
memespring
30-04-2006, 23:59
Me and Nipsla just got back from the 20th birthday of the Workers Beer Company and in the film they showed there was a great shot of Alfie dancing around at an anti racist gig on clapham common (in full regalia, c. 1985).
Wish I had had the chance to meet him. :(
miss minnie
03-05-2006, 17:38
gawd bless 'im, may he rest in peace!
i hope that his collection of photos and memorabilia get preserved some how, they were fascinating - a veritable catalogue of notable lambeth personalities and visitors, nearly all autographed.
someone told me the details of the funeral today though i'm not sure i recall the details entirely.... Monday 8th, 12:30 at Norwood Cemetary(?) with a reception at Lambeth Town Hall at 2pm. Pretty sure those times are correct although not sure about the cemetary - West Norwood Cemetary(?) - is there only one?
Minnie_the_Minx
04-05-2006, 10:39
gawd bless 'im, may he rest in peace!
i hope that his collection of photos and memorabilia get preserved some how, they were fascinating - a veritable catalogue of notable lambeth personalities and visitors, nearly all autographed.
someone told me the details of the funeral today though i'm not sure i recall the details entirely.... Monday 8th, 12:30 at Norwood Cemetary(?) with a reception at Lambeth Town Hall at 2pm. Pretty sure those times are correct although not sure about the cemetary - West Norwood Cemetary(?) - is there only one?
West Norwood is very well known. In fact, nearly every funeral I've been to has been there
Surprised the national press hasn't picked up on this story
Minnie_the_Minx
09-05-2006, 09:28
So did anyone attend Alfie's funeral?
Mrs Magpie
09-05-2006, 18:33
Yes, I did...it was very life-affirming....I will miss him lots.
linerider
10-05-2006, 00:59
Yes, I did...it was very life-affirming....I will miss him lots.
He always made me smile. RIP
I've been forwarded an excellent article on Alfie, which seems a good a way as any to commemorate the first anniversary of his death.
http://www.urban75.org/brixton/features/alfie-howard.html
spitfire
20-04-2007, 17:23
thanks ed, i'm raising a glass to alfie. cheers alfie.
bluestreak
21-04-2007, 12:55
wish i'd got to meet him, he sounds fascinating.
Another old Brixtonian died this week, aged 75: Terry Major-Ball.
brixtonvilla
21-04-2007, 14:29
As in brother of John Major? Shame, aways seemed like a nice chap from what I recall.
dogmatique
22-04-2007, 20:39
S'funny. Was talking about Alfie to some non locals last night. A year already.
quimcunx
22-04-2007, 20:54
RIP Alfie. Didn't he get shot with a crossbow a few years back. It always gave me a smile when i saw him.
William of Walworth
22-04-2007, 23:05
That's a great article ...excellent tribute !! :cool: :)
As in brother of John Major? Shame, aways seemed like a nice chap from what I recall.
Yeah ..there was a small obit in the Guardian or Observer with a cute pic of him on a bike with a clown. Did seem a nice bloke and in a way so did his bro...certainlt seemed a preferable guy to go for a pint with than Bliar or Brown.
Minnie_the_Minx
24-04-2007, 11:35
People come to England for its traditions, and there's no tradition of female town criers!" But hasn't he himself adapted the town crier traditions? "Yes, but not that much! It's like putting a woman on a horse outside horse-guards parade and sticking a brass hat on her head. That's no tradition. She'd just look silly."
Bless. He obviously never got to see a woman on a horse outside Horseguards then?
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