In Memoriam : Harriet Ryley

I remember dear Harriet particularly during the North-West tour of 1981(?), first gig Bristol. There were five of us in Jock's Nissan Cherry, along with Alistair and Dave Mason. A couple of incidents I remember well. We stopped for a break at Avoncliff and we all decided that a bit of skinny-dipping in the Avon would be just the thing. As soon as we entered the water we discovered that the trainline ran parallel to the river, and so commuters were treated to the sight of white bottoms sticking out of the water. Then after that we helped an old man who'd fallen asleep whilst fishing and his son Raymond had disappeared and was worried that he might have drowned - fortunately we found him. Jock and I stayed at Harriet's parents in Bedford (can't remember why) and she was a gracious host. It was lovely to see her at the last reunion, and a few of us ate at the Whaletale Cafe and had a great catchup. It's so sad that that was the last time I saw her.

There are a small number of Revue Group members whom I wish had been my contemporaries, instead of landing at Lancaster after my time was up. One such was Harriet. I was always struck by her charisma, talent and charm, albeit slightly from afar, as I initially only brushed shoulders with her during some early "Squirrel" tours. I later had the chance to meet her at "Ten" (although she still didn't really know who I was!) and, most recently, at the 2016 Reunion. Though few words between us passed, I was so pleased to get the chance to talk to her, and my abiding memory will be of a wonderful act of kindness she afforded me towards the end of the evening. So even though I never really knew this lovely lady, I am saddened she is no longer with us.

I never knew Harriet very well, chiefly because I'd left Lancaster before she started. But I did have the chance to meet her at both the 'Ten' show in 1986 and at the 2016 reunion. Harriet seemed a really kind, caring and modest person as well as a talented comic performer. At those two occasions we chatted about the world of broadcasting and journalism - both its current state and the prospects for the future. She had lots of interesting ideas and thoughts. It's truly awful that her life has been brought to such an early end.