Trivia

Hazlehurst joined the BBC in 1961 as staff arranger and arranged the programme for a concert at the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate the BBC's 40th anniversary. He began as orchestrations manager and then head of music for light entertainment - and finally musical advisor (light entertainment).

His name will be forever linked with the famous Television series 'Last of the Summer Wine' set in Holmfirth - which ended its 31 series run in 2010; and the many other TV themes and scores he composed throughout his long career. The BBC complained that his theme sounded nothing like a comedy theme and should be faster. However, since the programme was due to air two days after it had been written there was no time for a re-write. It went on to become one his best loved themes and the longest running comedy on British TV.

Hazlehurst said he tried to make the music fit the title of the programme to which it related - for example the piccolos imitating Morse code in 'Some Mothers Do 'Av 'Em'; the cash register and 'going up' lift sequence in 'Are You Being Served'; the chimes in 'Yes Minister', etc. 'I wouldn't prostitute a tune, to bend it every which way to fit the title', he said, 'but if I can make it so, I do'.

Has conducted the orchestra seven times for the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest.

Several obituaries (including those in The Times and The Guardian newspapers) reported that he was the composer of S Club 7's UK #2 hit Reach. This statement was previously found on his Wikipedia page as a hoax - the song was in fact written by Cathy Dennis and Andrew Todd.

He had a heart bypass operation in October 2006.

He moved to Guernsey from north London in 1998.

In 1977, he conducted the UK entry for the Eurovision Song Contest using a rolled-up umbrella.

Hazlehurst wrote the signature tune for 'The Two Ronnies' in 1971; and the lead-in series 'Ronnie Barker In Bed' (1971) - a 45 minute BBC TV special.

Moving from Hendon to Guernsey around 1997 he was awarded a Gold Badge two years later from the British Academy of Composers and Songwriters.

He began working for the BBC Northern Variety Orchestra and, from 1955, secured arranging work for Granada TV, working with Peter Knight head of music at Granada; but he left a year later when Knight did.

He continued writing music till his heart bypass operation on late 2006 but just less than a year later he suffered a stroke and died.

During his time in the Army, Hazlehurst was nominated to attend Kneller Hall (Royal Military School of Music, near Twickenham) as a student and it wasn't long before he became a professional musician earning £4 a week in the George Chambers' band who appeared on the BBC Light Programme.

He had his first experience at arranging before being called up for his National Service and from 1947 to 1949 he was a bandsman playing solo cornet in the 4th / 7th Royal Dragoon Guards, for which he also did arrangements.

Hazlehurst worked on the scores for series such as 'The Likely Lads' (1964); and the Dennis Potter TV play 'Vote, Vote, Vote for Nigel Barton' - a BBC Wednesday Play from 1965; 'The Liver Birds' (1971-75); and 'It's a Knockout' (1966).

One of Hazlehurst's first assignments was a TV movie called 'Ninety Years On' (1964) - a live variety show made by the BBC for which he contributed special musical arrangements along with other fine musicians such as Peter Knight; Alfred Ralston; Ray Terry; Dennis Wilson; and conductor Harry Rabinowitz.

He left the BBC in the 90s.

He was the son of a railway worker and piano teacher.

In 1968 he became the Light Entertainment Musical Director and composed the theme music for many BBC sitcoms including 'Are You Being Served' (1972-85); 'Some Mothers Do 'Av 'Em' (1973-78); 'Last of the Summer Wine' (1973-2010) or 'Yes Minister' (1980-84).

After leaving school aged 14, he became a clerk for a cotton mill.