Memorial suggested for beloved Neville Howard who was still sometimes made to feel like a foreigner after 73 years
TRIBUTES to Neville Howard include the suggestion that he should have a memorial near the bench where he used to serenade Cardiff shoppers.
Neville, who was one of the Windrush Generation, was a popular figure across the city, often seen singing in a deep Paul Robeson like voice in shops, parks and in the streets.
He died in hospital at 4am on March 5, weeks after being diagnosed with lung cancer and hours before celebrating his 95th birthday.
His family was able to spend time with him before his death and described him as: “a people person who got great joy interacting with others”.
Arriving in Cardiff and the Windrush Generation
Neville Howard arrived in the UK from Jamaica aged 18 as part of the Windrush Generation, docking in Southampton in 1948.
He moved to Harris Avenue, Rumney in 1951, where he lived for the rest of his life.
Amanda Laura Aherne, now 55, was just a little girl when Neville moved to Rumney, but her family and Neville’s got to know each other very well.
“They were an instant hit. We became great neighbours and friends with all the family and holidayed with his son Gary.
“Neville used to explain how he turned to raw foods for health benefits. He used to try and get my mum and dad to eat them too, but she told him that we love a roast too much.
“He had a wonderful smile. His laugh was beautiful and when he spoke to you, you were immediately mesmerised with his words.”
As a part of the Windrush Generation, Neville had to break down barriers when he moved to the UK. He was included in an exhibition called Windrush Cymru in St Fagan’s National History Museum of Wales, where he discussed the racial abuse he received in Wales.
“Am I a Welsh man? [laughs] No. I’m [still] called a foreigner. After 73 years.
“They thought because my skin is black, I don’t know anything,” he said.
Black History Month Wales has paid tribute to Neville on its Facebook page.
“Mr Howard, you made our hearts sing and you fought to break down all of the barriers you faced. We send our heartfelt condolences to all of the Howard family.
“His deep, beautiful, and unmistakable voice never failed to put a smile on the faces of everyone he serenaded in the centre and Cardiff as a whole.”
The singing voice heard around Cardiff
Since the news of his death, people from across Cardiff have paid tribute to Neville’s joyful singing, which brought smiles to everyone who heard it.
Rumney resident, Ali Lowery, said: “Walking through St David’s shopping centre and hearing his wonderful voice would cheer my day right up.”
Christine O’Mahoney, from Whitchurch thinks there should be something to remember Neville, in St David’s: “He would always be sitting on the bench outside Debenhams, you could hear his mesmerising voice as you walked in.
“Something needs to be put there so people will remember him for brightening everyone’s day.”
St Mellons resident, Jane Taylor, remembers his striking voice when she was shopping in Tesco.
“His voice was truly beautiful. I remember hearing him in the veg aisle and I began following him around Tesco, pretending to look at stuff just to hear his voice.”
St David’s have shown their gratefulness to Neville for providing shoppers with songs, describing him as a man with a song in his heart.
“All of us at St David’s are saddened to hear of the passing of Neville Howard.
He once auditioned for X-Factor in Cardiff and made it through to the next round in London, but he couldn’t go as he had no transport.
He will forever be remembered as the voice heard across Cardiff that put smiles on everyone’s faces.
