Rick Hardy

I was shocked to hear the tragic news that Rick Hardy was killed in a car crash the day after the Tales From The Woods Christmas do on Saturday night. Rick was a larger than life character who always had a fund of amusing stories about the early days of British rock and roll, including his time at the 2Is, in Hamburg and elsewhere. He will be missed.
I arrived too late to hear him sing his cockney songs at Saturday's party but he seemed in fine form. I enjoyed the evening, even though the repertoire of some of the old rock and rollers who performed seemed to consist largely of Elvis songs. I never thought that Nobody's Child would be a highlight, but Kenny Cook's version was great. Wee Willie Harris and Danny Rivers were also good, but who the hell is Rocking Gerry Champion?