Robert was honoured to be named Cultural Volunteer of the Year at the 2017 Knowsley Sports & Cultural Awards.

At the gala ceremony on 13 October, Robert was declared winner for his achievements as Artistic Director of the Prescot Festival of Music & the Arts, which he founded in 2005 and directs to this day.

The festival itself won Cultural Event of the Year, an honour it first held in 2015.

Pictured: Robert Howard, David Kernick, Laura Howard & Dot Howard, with Mayor of Knowsley Cllr Frank Walsh and author Frank Cottrell Boyce