Friends and family remember Steeleye Span legend Tim Hart

LEADING lights of the British folk music world gathered in St Albans on Sunday in memory of Tim Hart, one of the founders of the iconic group Steeleye Span.

They included members of his family and friends from both St Albans and the island of La Gomera in the Canary Islands where he had made his home and died aged 61 on Christmas Eve.

The special service was held at St Saviour's Church in Sandpit Lane, St Albans, where Tim's father, Canon Denis Hart, was vicar for many years.

Family tributes were led by his father, who now lives in retirement in Redbourn, together with his brother, Ken and son, Kim.

A tribute was also given by Maddy Prior, co-founder of Steeleye Span, who became Tim's singing partner in 1966. The couple began their career at the St Albans Folk Club, which then met at the Peahen Hotel in Holywell Hill, and Steeleye Span was formed in 1971.

In her tribute Maddy, the daughter of author and playwright Allan Prior who lived in St Albans until his death in 2006, told how many of the group's early rehearsals had taken place in St Saviour's Vicarage and the name Steeleye Span had been resolved while sitting round the vicarage dining table.

At the end of her tribute she was joined by former Steeleye Span members Peter Knight and Martin Carthy who added their own vocal tribute with one of the group's numbers.

A further tribute was paid by friend and writer Robin Denselow who emphasised the important role Tim had played in English folk music

Tim, who grew up in the city and attended St Albans School, left Steeleye Span in 1982. Following the break-up of his first marriage and because of health problems he moved to La Gomera where he established a new life as a writer and photographer. There he met and married his second wife, Connie.

He was diagnosed with cancer of the lung early last year. He leaves Connie and children Kim and Sally.