The Unity Hall Hotel

THE UNITY HALL HOTEL

The Unity Hall has had a long tradition of having a regular jazz band playing there at least once a week over a period of thirty four years. Garry Walford has been playing there for most of that time and is treated as part of the family by the owners of the hotel, I should say that he probably could have bought the pub with the money he has put over the bar in that time. The first owner to put on a band was John Crawford in 1971, the pub was taken over by Flo Hardman in 1974 and Flo's grandson Will Hardman took over from Flo when she passed away. Will still runs the pub today. Some musicians that have performed at the hotel over the years are listed below.

1971 Roger Grahem. Tpt Chris Williams, Tbn Adrian Ford, Pno

Peter Gallen, Bs Geoff Holden, Bjo Viv Carter, Dms David Ridyard, Clt

Late 1972 Geoff Bull, Tpt Chris Williams, David Ridyard, Don Heap, Bs

Gary Walford, Pno Mike Lay, Dms

1973 Ian Barns, Tpt Warren Mc Clusky, Bs Gary Walford, Chris Williams

1974 Ian Barns, Gary Walford, Dick Gillespie, Dms

Chris Williams

1975 As above with Lynn Wallis replacing Dick Gillespie on Dms

Late 1976 Roger Janes, Tbn Geoff Holden, David Ridyard, Lynn Wallis,

Geoff Bull, Gary Walford, Don Heap.

1977 Roger Janes takes over the band. Richard Edser, Bs Lynn Wallis,

Gary Walford, David Ridyard.

1978 Marty Moonie, Clt Roger Janes, Gary Walford

Don Heap, Lynn Wallis

From 1978 onwards the line up remained fairly regular with Paul Williams taking Marty Moonie's chair on Clarinet and Alan Geddes, Viv Carter and Lynn Wallis on Drums. In 2000 Roger Janes was hit by a car which proved to be fatal, his chair was taken over by Tom Baker and later Geoff Bull Tpt and Paul Furniss Clt Shared the front line. In 2001 Tom Baker died, today the band is called the Unity Hall Jazz Band and consists of Geoff Bull Tpt, Dan Barnett Tbn, Paul Furniss Clt, Don Heap Bs, Gary Walford Pno, Lloyd Taylor Dms, this line up is for the Friday nights. On Sunday afternoons the band consists of the rhythm section with various front line players such as :- Bob Henderson, George Washingmachine, Alan Davies, Etc.

UNITY HALL 35 Years of Jazz Party