On June 27th 2026, a very special concert was held at Cothill to celebrate an extraordinary milestone.  This year - 2026 - is Graham Howell's 40th year at Cothill!

Tom Bennett, Director of Music, put together a wonderful programme of music to show off the significant talents of the musicians currently in school, their music teachers and a number of Old Cothillians, some of whom have gone on to have careers in music and for whom Graham, was a key part of that progression.  We were delighted to welcome back Old Cothillians Sholto Kynoch, Tim Carlton-Jones, Jonny Venn, Joseph Chiu, Jesse Zhang and Leo Zhu who all contributed to a joyous evening.  We were also thrilled that Duncan Bailey - Old Cothillian and former Headmaster, and his family attended along with a number of former staff who returned to acknowledge the significant achievement of a very special colleague.  Cothill is always delighted to see Rachel Richardson - wife of former Headmaster, Adrian Richardson, at school events, her presence representing yet another Cothill generation.

The concert was followed by a drinks reception during which Graham was presented with a bespoke weather vane which will be installed on the music room.  The musical notes on the weather vane spell Graham's initials - DGH.  Those of you with some musical knowledge will know that 'H' is not a musical note.  However in German the note ‘B natural’ is actually written as an ‘H’ which allowed Bach - another fabulous musician - to spell out his own name in his music.

Graham Howell began his musical career as a chorister at Westminster Abbey, where he sang at the late Queen's Silver Jubilee. He then headed to Ardingly College as a music scholar before studying music at Durham University. In 1986, he came to Cothill and the rest as they say is history. Forty years on and he is still working with the same vim and vigour he began with. His ability to craft arrangements to suit the children in front of him is legendary and these pieces would fill endless volumes. Not only that, the quiet, gentle impact he has had on generations of musicians, whether they've pursued it beyond Cothill or not, is quite remarkable. Understated in everything he does his musicianship is beyond superlatives. Cothill has been lucky to have such a loyal and talented servant for so long.