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Ronnie Hazlehurst Has Died

(October 2007)

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MB
MalcyB
Ronnie Hazlehurst has died in hospital in Guernsey after suffering a stroke last week. He was 79 and will be fondly remembered for many of his catchy themes which he wrote for BBC television. Themes such as “Last Of The Summer Wine”, “The Two Ronnies”, “Some Mothers Do ’Ave ‘Em”, “Yes Minister”, “The Fall & Rise Of Reginald Perrin”, “Blankety Blank”, “Are You Being Served” and the incidental music for “TheGeneration Game”, along with many of the BBC Interlude tunes used before programmes started in the 1970’s with such titles as “White City Ditty”, “Corporation Pop”, “The Montages” and “Ben The Big One” which was also released on a French Production Music LP. Ronnie was the head of music at the BBC Light Entertainment department and was closely involved with the Eurovision Song Contest conducting the UK entry on many occasions, He was also responsible for introducing a system where composing a theme for a new programme was put out to tender. Several composers would then submit compositions. Arranger Dennis Wilson would then play them on the piano to audition them and the best piece would be chosen from all the submissions.
In 1999, he received a Gold Badge award from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters. He will be sadly missed.
JV
James Vertigan Founding member
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7023501.stm
RO
rob Founding member
Saddened to hear of his passing. I love the Last Of The Summer Wine theme, he will be missed by all who knew and loved his work.
CL
clanger
Supermatch game, supermatch game, supermatch game... supermatch game!
NH
Nick Harvey Founding member
Whilst we're on the subject of people without whom television would be a very different place, Ned Sherrin also passed away on Monday.
AL
altrus
clanger posted:
Supermatch game, supermatch game, supermatch game... supermatch game!

Excuse me.
RJ
RJH Glover
Very sad to hear the news, Ronnie Hazelhurst is arguably the most famous conductor for the United Kingdom. Outside Eurovision Ronnie will be missed for his contribution to British Television, writing themes for some of the best British Television shows ever made.

RIP Ronnie
GS
Gavin Scott Founding member
Nick Harvey posted:
Whilst we're on the subject of people without whom television would be a very different place, Ned Sherrin also passed away on Monday.


Did he? That's awful!
PT
Put The Telly On
A sad loss. Did you know Ronnie Hazlehurst also arranged the theme music for the first episode of Only Fools and Horses? Only John Sullivan opted for his own theme.

A true great in the world of television music compostion.

Incidently I have the full version of The Two Ronnies theme and played loud it sounds like a musical masterpiece.
TV
tvarksouthwest
There were some low points in his career, however. Namely his co-composition of S Club 7's "Reach". But even recent years Ronnie remained very active - and in 2001 Lucy Reeve of the Test Card Circle managed to reassemble the original band members to re-record his "Montage" as heard on BBC Schools and Ceefax AM. The CD might still be available I think...

RIP Ronnie - a very great loss to the British music scene but as Laurie Holloway says, his music will live on for years.
GS
Gavin Scott Founding member
tvarksouthwest posted:
There were some low points in his career, however. Namely his co-composition of S Club 7's "Reach".


You really make me want to box your ears at times.

It was a huge hit and couldn't possibly be considered a "low point".

Fool.
TV
tvarksouthwest
Just the second sentence would have been enough to make that particular point.

But no, you had to drag down this thread didn't you?

I am very close to contacting Asa.

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