Henry Howes

Although born in London, Henry Howes’ family were originally from Lincolnshire and during World War II, the young Henry returned to the county as an evacuee, staying at Holbeach. After the war, he joined the Aldwych Speed Skating Club and soon showed early promise. A trainee carpenter at the time, he won the British indoor half-and one-mile titles as a 17-year-old in 1946. The following year, he won the Amateur Ice Speed Skating Championship of Britain over 11/2 miles at Bury Fen in Huntingdonshire. It was the first time the Championship had been contested in 10 years because of warm weather. He was runner-up when it was next held in 1951.

At the 1948 Winter Olympics, Howes’ best finish was 18th in the 1,500 metres, and in the process, he knocked four seconds off the British record. Howes competed in the World All-round Championships at Helsinki in 1948, and before he eventually quit the sport, won two more British indoor titles, at half-mile in 1950, and one-mile the following year.

Personal Bests: 500 – 46.9 (1948); 1500 – 2:23.0 (1948); 5000 – 8:56.6 (1948); 10000 – 19:32.1 (1948).