In this section we would like to share the history of Syd’s life.
The section will updated as and when information comes available:
SYD HOWARTH MBE
- Born on 21st October 1937, the eldest son of Dorothy and Sydney Howarth
- Second eldest of eleven brothers and sisters
- Lived in a small home, four kids in a bed
- One outside toilet and one coal fire
- Lived with grandparents (from age 6 to 11) to alieve crowding
- Grandparents ran a newsagents and general dealers
- Father was a guillotine operator
- Did well academically at school and was offered a Grammar School position
- Parents could not afford Grammar School, so attended a Secondary school
- Attended the local Anglican Church and sang in the choir
- Sang solo at many church concerts
- Started emplyment at 15 as an accountants assistant
- After 3 weeks was taken on as an Apprentice compositor
- Worked 5 days a week 7.30am to 5.30pm
- Attended college 3 nights a week from 7.30 to 9pm
- At the same time worked at a wholesale vegetable market 3 mornings a week from 4.30 to 6.30am
- Nights off spent at choir practice and other church events
- Took up piano lessons when voice broke
- Appeared on the Carol Levis Discovery Schow at Nottingham Empire
- Radar Operator for the RAF during National Service at RAF Boulmer
- Met future Wife Irene at Alnwick and married after serving in the RAF
- First job after NS was for a printer in Stowell Street, Newcastle
- Eldest son Paul was born in 1962
- Also worked for Morpeth Herald
- Was head hunted for the manager’s position with a new company in Newton Aycliffe
- Moved to Newton Aycliffe in 1963 and found the new company had gone bust
- Took over the order book and started Newton Press
- Started Newton Press at an office at the back of the bakery in Neville Parade
- Second son Stuart was born in 1965
- Moved to bigger premises in Greenwell Road (no homeplan)
- Took over printing and publisahing the Newton News (then called the Newtonian)
- Third son Christopher was born in 1969
LOCAL ACHIEVEMENTS
- Set up the town’s Rotary Club
- Organised the carving and erection of the memorial
- Helped establish the first town organisation, The Garden’s Guild
- Arranged the tidy up campaign for the Blue Bridge area
- Motivated the Rotary Club to erect a welcome sign next to the Blue Bridge
- Stirred up local activities to raise money for new MRI scanners at Darlington and Bishop Auckland
- Led the Newton Aycliffe Youth Centre to their new home next to the town park
- Chaired various committees and organisations in Newton Aycliffe
- Was Governor at several schools
- Fought many campaigns to raise funds, start projects and local charities
- Helped raise over £160,000 for West Africa projects (water, schools and hospitals)
- President of Woodham Community Centre
- President of Acorn Players
- Trustee of Newton Aycliffe Scouts Supporters Association
- Vice Chairman of the Sedgefield Business Forum
- Member of Greenfield Arts College Forum
- Member of Woodham Technology College Forum
- Member of the Committee of the Learning Town Partnership
- President of the Newton Aycliffe Action Group
- Founder of Great Aycliffe Community Aid Partnership
