Obit: Geoff Harden, Belfast (Sept 06)

Subject: Obit: Geoff Harden, Belfast
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 04:39 AM

Tributes to folk journalist Harden

By Staff Reporter (Irish News 6/9/06) http://www.irishnews.com

Well-known folk music promoter and journalist Geoff Harden has died after a short illness, aged 63.

Mr Harden[, pictured,] was one of best known-figures on the Northern Ireland arts scene.

Mr Harden's folk music column ran in the News Letter for over 25 years.

Born in Kent he came to Northern Ireland in 1966 after graduating as a chemist and worked for a time at Gallaher cigarette factory.

He also presented folk music programmes on Citybeat, BBC and Downtown Radio.

Mr Harden promoted many folk gigs across Northern Ireland. He was instrumental in setting up the Belfast Folk Festival in 1981 and formed the Ulster Federation of Folk Clubs. He also worked as arts and administrative manager for the new Belfast Community Arts Initiative.

Royce Harper, writer and director of the arts programme Artery on Northern Visions television worked with Geoff on a number of projects.

"He was one of the few people in the media who did what he did out of sheer love and belief," Mr Harper said.

"He was a very kind and unassuming man. I think Northern Ireland has suffered a great loss."

Mr Harden, who lived in north Belfast, is survived by his wife Evelyn, sons Alastair and Niall and daughter Marina.

Subject: RE: Obit: Geoff Harden, Belfast
From: The Sandman
Date: 06 Sep 06 - 05:57 AM

Would this be the same Geoff Harden who was active in the 1970,s the rochester, gravesend, farningham and       dartford folk clubs. if so I send my condolences. Dick Miles

Subject: RE: Obit: Geoff Harden, Belfast (Sept 06)
From: GUEST,Peter Ingram
Date: 08 Sep 06 - 04:43 AM

Dick

Sadly this is the same Geoff Harden, who was my cousin. I was over in Belfast for the funeral on Wednesday and he will be sadly missed. Geoff was an inspiration. He introduced me to folk music and as a result I ran the folk club at the University of Kent at Canterbury from 1974 to 1977, booking many people that Geoff had introduced me too.

I will pass on your kind words to his family.

Kind regards


Peter Ingram

Subject: RE: Obit: Geoff Harden, Belfast (Sept 06)
From: GUEST,David Ballantine
Date: 09 Sep 06 - 06:06 PM

Very sorry to hear of Geoff Harden's death. As a young performer he gave me a debut spot in the convivial candle-lit Sunflower Folk Club in Belfast. He was hugely influential in the folk music scene in Belfast and a supportive presence to artists for many years and will be sadly missed.

David Ballantine

[e-mail]