Howard appointed me to Shopping City Library back in 1986, as Reference Librarian. His ability to lead, build consensus and carry people with him, all with his customary empathy, patience and kindness, taught me so much about creating opportunities for the left behind and working to make a difference. I am proud to have known him as a colleague, a boss and a friend.

So, farewell then, Howard. A remarkable man: a humanitarian, imbued with a gentle humour, compassion, understanding and kindness as well as a sense of social justice the like of which is a rarity in this, or any other age. I'm proud to say I knew you and honoured to have called you a friend. RIP.

I was Howard and I were both Heads of Service in Cheshire County Council's Information & Leisure Services Department in the 1990s. Howard was head of the Library & Information Service; I was head of the County Heritage & Recreation Service. Patric k Gee was our well-like and respected Director. I like Howard very much and appreciated his professionalism and wry sense of humour. He was one of the Good Guys! RIP, Howard.

One of life's true gentlemen ... I will remember Howard not only for appointing me to my role at Great Sankey Library (many many years ago) but more importantly for his kindness, care, compassion, his infectious smile and good nature. Howard will be greatly missed by all who knew him. My loving thoughts are with him and his family.

Howard Cockcroft’s passing is very sad and he will be deeply missed by us all, however he has left behind him a wonderful legacy in terms of his commitment to the community, his great passion for the Arts and his determination to make a real difference to the lives of others. Howard’s compassion towards those who are climbing up the ladder towards better lives, his great sense of humour and his overwhelming achievements in terms of the Brindley and other successful initiatives will ensure that his memory lives on.

Howard was such an inspiration to all ,colleague well remembered never forgotten he is much missed

Thank you for setting up this memorial to Howard. We hope that you find it a positive experience developing the site and that it becomes a place of comfort and inspiration for you to visit whenever you want or need to.

I am I and you are you, whatever we were to each other that we still are. Speak to me in the easy way which you always used. Why should I be out of mind because I am out of sight? Life means all that it ever meant, it is the same as it ever was.