OC Trevor Howard commemorated with plaque

On Saturday, Clifton College and Clifton and Hotwells Improvement Society (CHIS) hosted a special unveiling ceremony of a commemorative plaque honouring acclaimed actor and Old Cliftonian, Trevor Howard (DH, 1932). 

Trevor Howard first came to Clifton College in 1921 to attend the Prep School and later the Upper School. During his time here, he was an outstanding athlete, competing in rugby, football, boxing and athletics, as well as cricket, which was to be his lifelong sporting passion. Although he possessed considerable talent, he participated in few theatrical productions during his time at the school. It was at the suggestion of an English teacher that he applied for a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).  

After studying at RADA, Howard became one of the most distinguished actors of his generation, he starred in classics including Brief Encounter, The Third Man as well as receiving an Oscar nomination for best actor in Sons and Lovers. He passed away in 1988, leaving the College a gift in his will to support performing arts, cementing a lasting legacy in the performing arts.

A green plaque was placed on the Redgrave Theatre in his name, with the unveiling conducted by Peaches Golding, the Lord-Lieutenant of Bristol, on Saturday 13th September 2025. Owen Franklin, Director of the Bristol Film Festival, spoke at the unveiling both as an Old Cliftonian and an avid fan of Trevor Howard’s work, regaling the crowd with anecdotes of Howard’s life at Clifton and career.

The unveiling of the plaque coincides with the launch of the Redgrave Theatre’s Youth Theatre. Designed for ages 7-14, it aims to offer a fun, supportive space where young people can build confidence, explore their creativity and develop performance skills under the guidance of experienced industry professionals. 

Priority booking will open first to those who registered their interest, before further places are released to the general public very soon. Keep an eye on this page for further information.  

Jeremy Pickles, Head of Alumni and Community at Clifton College, said: "It is with great pride that we unveil this plaque to honour Trevor Howard, one of our most distinguished Old Cliftonians. His story is a powerful reminder that the path to success isn’t always a straight one; he found fame as one of the world's most distinguished actors despite not having participated much in drama during his school years. I hope that this plaque will serve as an inspiration to our current pupils that success within the performing arts is within their reach. Furthermore, we are deeply grateful for Trevor's generous support as a benefactor of the College's drama programme, which will continue his legacy for years to come."