Russell Harty - Red Rose Radio - Tribute

Russell Harty is fondly remembered. In some ways, an English eccentric.

Born in Lancashire, Russell never forgot his roots. Whilst the nation can readily picture him being mauled by Grace Jones on TV, radio was very much a home for him. He was one of the founder members of the applicant group for the Preston commercial radio franchise, awarded by the IBA to Red Rose Radio, as Chairman, Owen Oyston, recalls at the start of this clip. Oyston's company later became Trans World; and Oyston himself fell from grace.

Russell appeared on air too on Red Rose, starring on the first day, October 5th, 1982, alongside, Dave Lincoln, Keith Macklin and Allan Beswick.

Russell suffered unfair criticism, as is sadly so typical of the time, as Michael Parkinson brusquely and beautifully points out here.

He died in Leeds, aged just 53.