THE ILLUSTRATOR behind children's Christmas annual favourites, such as Doctor Who and John Wayne, has died aged 80.
During a career spanning 60 years, artist Walter Howarth delighted youngsters by creating some of the country's most famous illustrations.
The 80-year-old, who also created drawings for The Lone Ranger, Dempsey and Makepeace and Bonaza annuals and illustrated Bolton Wanderers programmes, died in his sleep on Thursday morning at the Royal Bolton Hospital.
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His wife of 58 years, Renee, said: "He died peacefully, which is the main thing. He kept his sense of humour right up until the end."
Mr Howarth, of Blake Gardens in Halliwell, was also a former landlord of the House Without a Name pub in Bradshaw.
He began work as an illustrator aged just 16 after attending Tonge Fold School and Bolton Art College.
He initially worked for a publishing house, but made the decision to strike out alone more than 45 years ago and created stunning illustrations until he began to lose his eyesight two years ago.
A lifelong Bolton Wanderers fan, Mr Howarth created illustrations for programmes during the 1950s and was a season ticket holder until last year.
His family plan to scatter his ashes at the Wanderers ground.
The great-grandfather celebrated his 80th birthday, along with his wife and five friends, last November.
Mrs Howarth said: "He had a wonderful life and loved his job. He became down when he could no longer draw. Through his drawings his memory will live on."
The work of Mr Howarth is still in high demand and special edition packs of Doctor Who cards feature his signed illustrations.
Grandson Michael, aged 27, said: "I was so proud that my granddad did what he loved for a living and worked for himself.
"You couldn't teach the gift he had."
Mr Howarth was diagnosed with polycystic kidneys, a complaint causing people to suffer from cysts on their kidneys, 15 years ago and had been suffering with heart problems.
He was admitted to the Royal Bolton Hospital with pneumonia two weeks before he died.
His funeral will be held at Halliwell Methodist Church at 2.45pm on Thursday, followed by a committal at Overdale at 3.45pm.
Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to Derian House children's hospice.
Mr Howarth sounds like one of Bolton's unsung. To think, comics, books I read as a kiddie had been drawn virtually on the doorstep !
It would be a fitting tribute to have an exhibition in the Museum perhaps ? I was never aware of Mr. Howarths work until this sad notice.
Condolences to the family.R.I.P. Mr. Howarth, you bought me a lot of joy.Thank you.
Mr Howarth sounds like one of Bolton's unsung. To think, comics, books I read as a kiddie had been drawn virtually on the doorstep !
It would be a fitting tribute to have an exhibition in the Museum perhaps ? I was never aware of Mr. Howarths work until this sad notice.
Condolences to the family.R.I.P. Mr. Howarth, you bought me a lot of joy.Thank you.
Posted by: Philip, Ashton-iMakerfield on 11:16pm Sat 15 Mar 08
There were a number of John Wayne annuals published from the 1950s to the 1970s, graced with the wonderful artwork of Walt Howarth. A few are currently available from a certain auction site as I type.
Perhaps it would be more helpful if [italic]"Old Boltonian"[/italic] was better informed and a little less disrespectful.
RIP Walt Howarth.
There were a number of John Wayne annuals published from the 1950s to the 1970s, graced with the wonderful artwork of Walt Howarth. A few are currently available from a certain auction site as I type.
Perhaps it would be more helpful if "Old Boltonian" was better informed and a little less disrespectful.
RIP Walt Howarth.
Posted by: Lew Stringer, Nuneaton on 12:37pm Sun 16 Mar 08
It's sad that the (typically) anonymous poster above has never heard of Walt Howarth, but he's probably seen his work without being aware of it. Like many British comic artists of the period, Walt's work was often uncredited, even though his output was very prolific. R.I.P.
It's sad that the (typically) anonymous poster above has never heard of Walt Howarth, but he's probably seen his work without being aware of it. Like many British comic artists of the period, Walt's work was often uncredited, even though his output was very prolific. R.I.P.
Posted by: RagReader, Horwich on 4:45pm Sun 16 Mar 08
[quote][bold]Philip[/bold] wrote:
There were a number of John Wayne annuals published from the 1950s to the 1970s, graced with the wonderful artwork of Walt Howarth. A few are currently available from a certain auction site as I type. Perhaps it would be more helpful if [italic]"Old Boltonian"[/italic] was better informed and a little less disrespectful. RIP Walt Howarth.[/quote] I'm in total agreement, he was a great artist.
I like the idea of Bolton museum doing an exhibition of his work.
Philip wrote:
There were a number of John Wayne annuals published from the 1950s to the 1970s, graced with the wonderful artwork of Walt Howarth. A few are currently available from a certain auction site as I type. Perhaps it would be more helpful if "Old Boltonian" was better informed and a little less disrespectful. RIP Walt Howarth.
I'm in total agreement, he was a great artist.
I like the idea of Bolton museum doing an exhibition of his work.
Posted by: Wayne Howarth, Bolton on 1:07pm Tue 18 Mar 08
I'd like to thank all of the people posting comments about my father's passing. He was a great talent, and an even greater man.The one rather sad and silly comment by one person would have made my Dad laugh out loud !
I'd like to thank all of the people posting comments about my father's passing. He was a great talent, and an even greater man.The one rather sad and silly comment by one person would have made my Dad laugh out loud !
Posted by: Michael Howarth, Bolton on 4:57pm Tue 18 Mar 08
Thank you for your all your lovely comments and kind words. He was an amazing man, a phenomenal talent, and he will be missed dearly by everybody he knew him!
The person who felt the need to make a mockery of the article needs to get a life and go and bother somebody else!
Thank you for your all your lovely comments and kind words. He was an amazing man, a phenomenal talent, and he will be missed dearly by everybody he knew him!
The person who felt the need to make a mockery of the article needs to get a life and go and bother somebody else!
Posted by: Douglas Smith, Urmston on 11:57pm Wed 19 Mar 08
For years I knew and loved his work on the Dr Who annuals of the 1960s and more recently the sketch cards as mentioned above.
His art was amazing and through it he brought fun and happiness to many.
For years I knew and loved his work on the Dr Who annuals of the 1960s and more recently the sketch cards as mentioned above.
His art was amazing and through it he brought fun and happiness to many.
Posted by: Cathy Farnworth, Cornwall on 11:32am Wed 7 May 08
Dear Renee and Michael,
I wonder if Walter's grandparents were called James and Priscilla? James appears to have been adopted into the Wolstenholme family in the 19 century and grew up alongside Thomas W., the father of Kenneth Wolstenholme (my great uncle). He like Walter and the rest of the Farnworth /Wolstenholmes were also tremendous Bolton Wanderer fans.
Cathy
Dear Renee and Michael,
I wonder if Walter's grandparents were called James and Priscilla? James appears to have been adopted into the Wolstenholme family in the 19 century and grew up alongside Thomas W., the father of Kenneth Wolstenholme (my great uncle). He like Walter and the rest of the Farnworth /Wolstenholmes were also tremendous Bolton Wanderer fans.
Cathy
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