Tribute to a Past Chairman

On 13th August the world lost Colin Mort, who played a key role in the history of the National Harmonica League, now HarmonicaUK. Colin was born in Kent and after spending some of his early years in India, he completed his education at Framlingham College in Suffolk. He bought his first 10-hole harmonica at the age of 12 in Port Said when he was passing through the Suez Canal on the way to Rangoon. After school he completed an Engineering Apprenticeship with Rolls Royce and met his wife Marion at the University of Edinburgh. They married and set up home in Derby, where Colin began his lifelong association with vintage Rover cars. In 1965, Colin moved to Harrow in London and started a COLIN MORT new job with IBM. In 1971, he purchased his beloved Rover Tourer which became his lifelong restoration project. (1937–2021) In 1976, the family moved to Shirrell Heath, near Southampton, as Colin continued to work for IBM. Colin’s involvement with his children’s music lessons re-awoke his Tributes to a past Chairman - a passion for music and he began to play harmonica again. He joined the local Choral Society and with the help of a music teacher, began to study music seriously. grandee of the Colin came across the NHL in the early 1980s and met up with the harmonica world. new President, John Walton. Colin got involved: in 1986 he won the NHL Championship in Banbury and in 1987 he competed in the World Championships in Jersey, Channel Islands. That same year, the presidency of the NHL passed to Colin. He reorganised the committee, becoming Chairman, and persuaded Larry Adler to become President. Colin kept the organisation afloat, filling roles such as treasurer and newsletter editor as necessary, and slowly eliminated its debts, helped by a succession of committee members, before stepping down in 2000. He put up a website on Compuserve, which I took over in 1999 to build harmonica.co.uk. Colin met Rowena Millar (then Gelling) in 1982. They entered harmonica competitions as a duo, and formed trios/quartets with Rowena’s husband Andy, Steve and Josie Jennings, and later, Gerry Ezard. They joined Jim Hughes’s National Harmonica Orchestra, competing at two international festivals. Colin was an engineer and learned how to service and tune his harmonicas, skills he enjoyed passing on to others. After I took over, he spent time with me and Ben sharing his knowledge. Encouraging children and opening up the organisation to diatonic players was part of his strategy for the future. In retirement, Colin taught, played, and founded Southern Harmonics in Hampshire. He continued as NHL Membership Secretary for a while, helped at annual festivals and chromatic weekends, and organised a harmonica band tribute to Ken Howell and Douglas Tate: www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ik55cSUKEns

Roger Trobridge presenting an award for trio playing to Colin, Rowena Millar and Gerry Ezard.

Colin’s health deteriorated following the death of his wife, and he moved to Devon near his younger daughter. Rowena kept in regular contact and played harmonica for him until his death in

August, as did another long-time friend, Johnny Mars.

Colin was hard-working, conscientious and self-effacing, generous to a fault. He did not seek the limelight, but had a cheery smile and impish sense of humour. People fondly remember his sandals, socks, and woollen sweaters.

When I took over from Colin as Chairman, I wanted to write a tribute. Colin said, grinning, “Perhaps we don't need to say anything other than, ‘Colin has retired. Roger is the new Chairman’ ”. Roger Trobridge (Spiderman), past Chair, with contributions from Colin’s long-time friend, Rowena Millar, and Colin’s family. I first met Colin at my first NHL annual convention at Stratford

Upon Avon in 1983. I was immediately drawn to this sincere and welcoming man. Although we met on a number of occasions, sadly I never knew him well. As chairman, Colin’s leadership, resilience and ability to steer our ship in treacherous seas has, without doubt, guaranteed him a place in our rich history as a truly great chairman. Rest in peace, Colin. We hope that we can continue to carry your torch.

Pete Hewitt - Chair, HarmonicaUK

Colin was one of the grandees of the harmonica world as I started out in this community. He came to do some performing for a school event that I put on - the Guinness World Record attempt for largest harmonica ensemble in the world - and we got it - the inaugural record! He showed me quite a lot about harmonica engineering, rivets, making tools to help you maintain instruments, and even gave me a plinker to plink the reeds. I still have it and use it. He made the design so that you could always easily pick up this thin flat sliver of steel - I think he said it was made from blue steel which had been strengthened for plinking! Colin was very interested in engineering and had been working on one of his Rover car projects for many years. He showed me around his garden and I think there might have been 17 sheds full of his projects going on. My cousin Rachel ran a weekly choir at the care home he stayed at in Devon, and she says he often played harmonica in the group and he talked fondly of the old harmonica days. He certainly made an impact on the world of the harmonica and especially to the National Harmonica League over a number of years and will be fondly remembered and sadly missed. Ben Hewlett - Vice-President, HarmonicaUK

Jim Hughes presenting a certificate for duo playing to Colin and Rowena Millar

I played the harmonica a bit when I was in my teens, then at 19 got called up for national service and when I was in Cyprus, a chromatic harmonica caught my eye. I gave up playing in 1959 when I was 21 and got into singing. At 60, music was still calling me and I purchased a Hohner Meisterklasse, set out to find a teacher, found Colin only about 15 minutes away, and started to learn. I had in my mind that I would be learning by ear, but no! After teaching me how to hold the instrument correctly and teaching some vibrato and dynamics, out came the scales and sheet music. Colin gave me a couple of pieces to learn: ‘Spanish Folk Song’, a little haunting piece, and some Bach. I played it in the Festival competition in 2000 and was awarded First Place in the Chromatic class. I had a degree of success at other festivals also, both harmonica and general. Colin was a stickler for detail and I could tell from adjudicators’ comments that he was teaching me well. I always remember Colin saying, ‘It’s not so much what you play but how you play it (I believe he was quoting Tommy Reilly). He was generous with his time, and always had a cup of tea on the go. We talked a lot about, and listened to, music, and there was always something to be learned. Colin was prolific. I believe he was NHL Chairman, Treasurer and Secretary all at the same time for a period. He also led Southern Harmonics at his and Marion’s home, ‘Rivendell’. Colin was committed to the NHL and I’m sure will be remembered with gratitude.

Thanks Colin, rest in peace with Marion. God bless, Dave (David Inns)