Ken Howard Memorial Trophy

Ken Howard was one of the three founder members of CAST, alongside Viv Howard and Kay Smith, who created Colnbrook Amateur Stage Theatre in 1991, based at the new Colnbrook Village Hall.

From the very beginning, Ken played an important part in the life of the company. He served as Treasurer for the first ten years and was a much-loved member of the group.

Ken’s particular strength was set design and construction, and his practical skill, imagination and hard work made a major contribution to many CAST productions.

For The Bandwagon in July 1994, Ken and the team recreated a typical 1960s flat. Later that year, for Dazzle, he helped transform the stage into the starship Sunburster One. For Boeing Boeing, Ken credited alongside John Greene and Ian Tapner the famously complicated seven-door set.

In 1997, Ken took on his first and only CAST directing role with Rock Nativity. Although directing was not to become a regular role for him, his lasting legacy within CAST was undoubtedly his imaginative scenery, practical skill and enormous contribution behind the scenes.

On 19 February 2006, CAST held a special charity gala, Songbook, to celebrate the company’s 15th anniversary and to thank Ken, who had been planning to move to Thailand with his new wife, "Little".

More than 60 past and present members came together for the event, with the proceeds going to Thames Hospice Care, who had given Ken considerable support during his illness.

Ken was due to be the guest of honour, but sadly he had been taken into hospital with pneumonia and was unable to attend.

At the end of the evening, then Chairman Steve Oakes thanked everyone who had come together to create the show and shared the devastating news that Ken had lost his battle earlier that afternoon.

With performers, musicians and backstage crew gathered together on stage, CAST mourned as one family. It was an enormously emotional moment in the company’s history and one that brought members even closer together.

Ken had also been due to receive a trophy from Colnbrook with Poyle Parish Council in recognition of his work within the village since the formation of CAST. Following his death, the Council decided that the trophy should instead be presented annually by CAST to a worthy recipient within the group.

It was agreed that CAST members would vote for the person they felt most epitomised the CAST ethos of:

fun, friendship and camaraderie.

Today, the Ken Howard Memorial Trophy continues to honour both Ken’s contribution to CAST and the spirit of friendship, community and togetherness that he helped create from the very beginning.

Thank you, Ken, Viv and Kay. 

Without you, there would be no CAST family.