Stan Laundon                                                                            Sharing Memories

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THE HARTBEATS

The Hartbeats at the Maison de Dance in Stockton, with the master of ceremonies the late and great Jack Marwood. With Jack are George Hart Senior, Roly Thompson, John Rogan and George Hart. John Hart is in the background at the drum kit. Jack Marwood was, of course, leader of Jack Marwood & his Orchestra. He was a great musician and liked by all the groups who worked for him. Underneath the stage at the Maison de Dance, we are told, was a cellar trap door with a passage leading to the old Empire building on the site of the old Stockton Castle.

George Hart with Stratocaster in 1960 and with a Telecaster taken in Tunisia sometime during the early 1970's.

John Hart on drums

Geoff Alder with a white Fender Stratocaster doing a show at his old school - Dyke House.

This photograph dates to 1963 and was taken after The Hartbeats won a band competition. Geoffrey Alder who is playing the white Stratocaster says, "I remember one of the other bands was The Haft'a Darkks. Two of the band members were brothers called Alec and Brian Weegram I believe?" Other Haft'a Darkks members included Pete Maunder on rhythm guitar and Billy Collier on lead. The photographs show Geoffrey Alder with a white Fender Stratocaster, Peter Trundley on Gibson bass, Harry Bilton – the lead vocalist and with the trophies - John Hart on drums and Roly Thompson with the Gibson guitar. Geoffrey Alder replaced George Hart as lead guitarist and John Hart is George's brother. Peter Trundley took over on bass guitar after John Rogan left the band to join Adam Faith and The Roulettes.

The Hartbeats outside the Catcote Hotel, in Hartlepool

The Hartbeats at Hartlepool Community Centre in 1963

The Hartbeats in John Hart's front room in 1963. The LP they are looking at is "Joe Brown Live" which was recorded at the Globe Theatre, in Stockton.

The Hartbeats perform at a local dance

This photograph, from 1965, shows John Hart, George Hart and Derek Allen at the back with Roly Thompson and Ken Officer in the front

John and George Hart at the Causeway in Hartlepool, October 2006

The Harts Showgroup card came from the collection of Alan Lindridge

George Hart

George Hart, who was the founder member and lead guitarist of the 60's Hartlepool band The Hartbeats, passed way during the early hours of May 27th, 2008 after suffering from cancer. He was 64.

He started his musical career at the age of ten when he studied keyboards. At 15 he opted to play guitar and, along with his brother John, founded The Hartbeats. In later years he also played with The Plainsmen, The Reaction Show Group, Two of Hearts, The Harts Showgroup and The Hart Family who won the ITV television show "New Faces" in 1974.

This page is dedicated to the memory of George Hart

A personal tribute by Stan Laundon

It is always sad when a friend or colleague dies. It was a privilege for me to have known George since the 1960's. He was the founder of The Hartbeats - without any doubt the best group that Hartlepool had ever seen. George was extra special. He was a guitarist we all wanted to be like. He was a true gentleman and the best guitar player Hartlepool had ever seen, or heard. It was a pleasure to have known him and an even greater pleasure to share a stage with him as I did a few times since 2004. George may you rest in peace and show them all how it's done up there with the Angel Band.

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