Jet's funeral will be held on Thursday 31 March 2011 at at Basingstoke. Family and close friends only.
Janet is requesting family flowers only. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made to the "Jet Harris Memorial Fund" - either on the day of the funeral, or send c/o the Funeral Directors, Richard Steele & Partners Ltd, Alderman House, 12-14 City Road, Winchester SO23 8SD. It's also possible to donate by bank transfer. HSBC Branch Sort Code 40-46-39 Account no. 61794353 or for donations outside the UK - Swift Code: MIDLGB22 IBAN: GB64MIDL40463961794353 Account Name: Jet Harris Memorial Fund. The memorial fund will be kept open for 6 months then, at some suitable date, we will announce its closure and Janet will distribute the money to a cancer charity/charities in memory of Jet. We hope to organise a public memorial service - details to be announced later."
Not only was I there - but (and completely 'out of the blue') I was asked by Janet (when she was still under considerable duress in the immediate aftermath of Jet's death) to write and deliver Jet's Funeral Tribute. I said 'Yes' to take that worry away from her - but then the enormity of it set in. It wasn't something I was looking for. In its own way - it occupied most of my waking hours (& some 'unconscious' ones too) for 10 days or so. So important to get it right for everyone concerned. Well, I have followed the Shadows for 52 years. I knew Jet personally for 27 years and met him over 200 times. Plus - in another part of my life - I had actually done some pretty daunting public speaking events. Nothing to match this occasion though. Now, I don't know how much of that Janet knew or not. I was deeply touched that she placed her complete and utter trust in me. Totally. In the end I spoke for about 15 minutes. As well as lots of general mulling, thinking, changing etc., etc - I spent 15 hours solid on the final 15 minute draft. Still changed it a little on the day itself when real nerves temporarily kicked in.
To the service itself. Although I arrived (or so I thought) in good time - the car parks were already full and stewards were deployed to direct cars onto the nearby grass banks. A huge throng of people was already congregated. There were quite a few general fans who turned up too. No names, no pack drill. But...to be honest...Janet really didn't mind - it just would have been a big problem if hundreds had arrived unannounced. Jet was laid to rest in a bamboo casket in keeping with his views on ecology. In 2005 Tony Meehan had a wicker casket for similar reasons. Jet's hat, his MBE medal and other personal momentoes were placed on top of the casket, which was surrounded by personal bouquets of flowers. As we filed in - it was to the strains of Bach's "Air On A G String" - the bass part was apparently much loved by Jet. As the seats quickly filled the minister simply allowed mourners to fill up virtually the entire chapel. The two hymns (sung lustily with real gusto and not a little finesse) selected were Parry's "Dear Lord And Father Of Mankind" and "Morning Has Broken" - with the lines "...praise for the sweetness of the wet garden..." reflecting Jet's love of the same. In a metaphysical sense the last music that Jet would have 'heard' in this world was "Diamonds" - which closed the ceremony. I won't dwell on what I said - but I was emotionally thrown when, literally as we were about to begin the service I was handed a personal message to be read out from Sam, one of Jet's sons, who couldn't be there. I couldn't stop myself choking - but I got through. It was a very touching, highly personal note.
Afterwards many people stayed to talk, chat and reminisce until politely asked to depart from the area immediately outside the crematorium to make way for the next service. By 5.00pm many people headed off to a little reception at the Royal Winchester Hotel. I'm sure that Di (who knew Jet & who I needed for my own moral support) & myself weren't the only ones to get lost in Winchester's one -way system.What with that and parking restrictions - it took us an hour to get there and many people had already left & all of the food had gone!LOL. Oh well. Because we live not too far away we stayed on for a little meal which was ordered c. 8.00pm and arrived at c. 9.30pm!!! OK - I'm getting too mundane now - but everyone (not least Janet herself) was very tired & emotionally wrung out.
OK.OK! I know - you will want to know who was there. Quite right. Lots of fans and friends, relatives etc. Many of whom I didn't know & a few that I did. Of the people I did know - here goes. Now, please do forgive me if you were there and not mentioned - I am only human. For starters there was one gentleman from the French Shadows Fan Club. I'm sorry - but I can't recall his name - as our meeting was very brief. If he's reading this (or if anyone else knows his name) then please let me know. Right....John Skelton and Mike Porterfield (who wrote "Here I Stand") who've worked with Jet on various projects down the years. Nigel Hopkins and Paul Rumble (who worked with Jet on "The Journey"), Pat Terrett and Zoe McCullough (who worked with Jet on "The Phoenix Rises" - amongst other things). Ralph Gowling who has done a great deal of work with Jet, Dave Holbrooke with his unstinting work running Jet's fan club - not to mention the memorable 50th / 60th / 70th birthday events. David Hawley who accompanied me to innumerable Jet shows and helped Jet out with photographs / CDs / DVDs etc., etc. Tony Hoffman - 'Uncle' Tony with his (until recently) amazing "Shadsfax" was always a big fan of Jet's - likewise Jim 'Mr Memory' Nugent. Derek Misselbrook - who has never forgotten Jet's amazing appearance at his 65th birthday bash and so on. Broadcaster and friend Geoff Barker (who can forget his recent brilliant tributes) was there as was acclaimed music writer / author Alan Clayson. How about the musicians who've worked with Jet on live shows? From waaaayy back - Laurel Jones and Graham, Chris 'Fender' Black, Justin Daish and Steve Longden from the Shadowers, Jeff Tuck and John Burleigh from the splendid Flames, Roger Newell, Neville Marten and Eddie Allen from Marty Wilde's amazing Wild Cats. Plus....of course....from our beloved Rapiers - Colin Pryce - Jones, John Tuck & Nathan Hulse. Lucky that Janet Pryce - Jones didn't run into EFTP guru Charlie Hall. That's an 'in - joke' - but those wonderful people have also put themselves out many times on Jet's behalf. Long time friend and Rollercoaster Records (Cliff & The Shadows at the BBC...Yessss!!!!) 'head honcho' John Beecher also knew Jet from way back in the day.
Now...onto the real stars. These people are not only fantastic musicians but wonderful people. Many of them had an association with Jet going back well over 50 years. I've just helped Janet & Audrey to prepare a press release. On that I gave a little background for each one. I won't do that here. These are national figures who all music fans will know and love. Some I spoke to...not all...too busy...so many people after their time & attention. A few of them genuinely had to leave fairly quickly after the service. But....their presence was a great source of comfort to Janet and she was genuinely touched by their sensitivity, kindness and support. Whatever differences of opinion some might have had with Jet in the past were long forgotten. One thing was absolutely certain. They were all in no doubt that Jet really was the master of the bass guitar and, in his heyday, a true icon. Their own tributes were heartfelt and genuine. Thanks to (purely in alphabetical order):
Brian Bennett, Warren Bennett, Mike Berry, Clem Cattini, Jess Conrad, Billie Davis,Terry Dene, Cliff Hall, Alan Jones, Brian 'Licorice' Locking, Bruce Welch and Marty Wilde.
RIP Jet
Rob Bradford
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