Harry

Funny you should mention Alan Bell - I've just been on the phone to him! He has a wealth of material about the programmes that he's going to send to me to have a look at so that should add a tremendous amount of info to the research. He confirmed that the BBC archives no longer has any tapes of the programme. I've emailed Brian Preston to ask if he still has the rumoured video tapes and I await his reply with interest.

The reason I'm doing this is to find out more about the recordings and broadcasts of Harry Boardman who was involved in BotNW.
Harry Boardman did several other radio programmes including 'The Edge' by Joe Beard. Joe has sent me details of the broadcast and the background to the story. Other programmes include a series called 'Ballads of Manchester' for BBC Radio Manchester (or GMR as it is today) I've sent an email to someone who was also involved with that for their memories.

I think I've got the record side of things up to date starting with 'New Voices' in 1965. 'Deep Lancashire'and the follow up 'Owdham Edge' was the one that kick started a few recording careers including Bernard Wrigley, Mike Harding and The Oldham Tinkers. Transpennine was next followed by A Lancashire Mon. Golden Stream and a cassette release called Personal Favourites were the last things he did solo. He also appeared on other LPs - 'The Bonnie Pit Laddie' and 'Steam Ballads'

Some tracks are being re-released as extras on CD issues of old stuff - for example The Iron Muse has been remastered with extra tracks including one of Harry's - The Handloom Weaver's Lament

I was fortunate enough to be a resident at Harry's club in the early 80's for a couple of years and have got a number of tapes of him singing - not brilliant quality but listenable to.

If anybody has any other memories of listening to Harry Boardman on the wireless then I'd be interested to hear them.

mark.dowding@virgin.net

Cheers

Mark