Peter Howell

Peter Howell was an English actor of stage and screen Despite his relatively privileged life he was educated at Winchester and at Christ Church Oxford leaving the latter when called up for service as an officer in the Rifle Brigade during WWII Howell was a lifelong active member of the Labour Party and campaigned for a number of social issues One of his most remembered roles is that of the governor in Alan Clarkes 1979 film version of Scum which he took because he wanted to highlight the issues regarding the penal system He was also a longtime member of the Marylebone Cricket Club and opposed their planned 196869 England cricket tour of apartheidera South Africa which was eventually cancelled He helped to raise funds for the building of Watermans Arts Centre near his home in Chiswick west London Howell died at Denville Hall a home for retired actors in Northwood London on 20 April 2015 after a short illness aged 95