George was a legend

Towns the length and breadth of Britain have tales to tell about visits by the Beatles when they were four young musicians travelling from gig to gig in a battered van, and not the legendary figures they were to become. Swindon is no exception, as SARAH HEATHCOTE discovered.

GEORGE Harrison was loved and respected by many within the music industry, including leading figures from Swindon.

The former Beatle, who was 58, died on Thursday after a long battle against cancer. Harrison, lead guitarist and occasional songwriter for the world's most famous band, was with his wife, Olivia, and son Dhani, 24, when he died at a friend's Los Angeles home.

Sir George Martin, the producer often referred to as the Fifth Beatle, lives near Highworth in Swindon.

He said Harrison has entered a higher state, and added: "George was a wonderful musician and a fine human being.

"He was the baby of the Beatles, and unlike Paul and John, he had a hard time developing his songwriting talent and making his music alone.

"But he worked hard, and with enormous patience, building his music meticulously, he eventually came to write one of the greatest love songs of all time, Something."

Martin signed the Beatles to EMI's Parlophone label in 1962 and guided them through recording sessions at the Abbey Road studios.

The tracks that emerged changed popular music forever,

The veteran producer said: "George was a true friend, intensely loyal, caring deeply for those he loved, and he inspired much love in return.

"Olivia and Dhani gave him the ideal family that he needed, and they have borne his illness with enormous courage and devotion.

"He was always so proud of them.

"George loved his garden in England, and creating beauty among his trees and plants was almost as important to him as his music.

"His marvellous sense of humour is well known, and we always had a good laugh when we were together.

"Indeed, he was the first one to hit me with his crack, 'I don't think much of your tie, for a start', when we first met.

"Now I believe, as he did, that he has entered a higher state.

"God give him peace."

Harrison was the youngest of the Beatles and met his bandmates in Liverpool, where they all grew up.

He was just 27 when the band split in 1970.

The Beatles had 17 number one singles in the UK and 20 in the US. Their most recent album, compiling all their number one hits, called simply 1, topped both the UK and the US charts during 2000.

In the Swinging Sixties, they came to McIlroy's the former Regent Street department store with a ballroom upstairs, and Swindon's biggest attraction at the time.

The Beatles performed there on July 17, 1962, just weeks before drummer Pete Best was replaced by Ringo Starr, and only three months before the Beatles first single, Love Me Do, hit the charts.

The superstars-to-be were hardly known outside their home city at the time, so only 360 people came to hear them.

And the only mention of the band in the Evening Advertiser was in an advertisement for the store, which billed them as 'The Fabulous Beat Group from Liverpool' and 'The Most Popular Group in the North'.

Bill Reid, owner of the Brunel Rooms, was at the centre of the town's music scene as the promoter at Mcllroys in the 1960s.

Bill, 68, from Malmesbury, said of Harrison: "He was a legend. It's terribly tragic.

"His reputation in the music business was that of a very talented and kind man, and after a long fight it's a tragedy that he has died."

In 1962, Bill paid the Fab Four just £27.10s for their time at Mcllroys. But Bill had recognised their star potential and advance booked them to play in Salisbury on June 15, 1963.

This time they were well on their way to superstardom and Bill paid them £300.

Bill said: "In 1962 I think we gave them their first dates outside Liverpool.

"They were a very unusual band. They just turned up in a van, got out and got up on stage.

"They were entirely different to the other bands around at the time who were playing in gold lame costumes.

"People kept telling us they were going to have a hit record but we heard this all the time.

"Then, in the months after they played in Swindon, they exploded like a fireball.

"They had a hit with their first single Love Me Do and suddenly became the biggest thing since sliced bread.

"I had booked them in advance to play Salisbury City Hall where they performed to a packed crowd.

"The Beatles contribution to the music scene was incredible.

"It's very sad news about George. Everybody said what a lovely guy he was."

Pat Lloyd from Moredon was at the gig at Mcllroys in 1962 and took a photo of the Fab Four. She sold the picture at an auction in 1995 at the De Vere Hotel for £750. After leaving the Beatles, Harrison went on to produce a critically acclaimed solo album All Things Must Pass. Later albums were less well-received, although he retained a loyal following.

His role as a film producer took off when he worked on Monty Python's Life of Brian in 1979. He was also responsible for The Long Good Friday, Time Bandits and Mona Lisa.

In the 1980s, Harrison teamed up with former ELO front-man Jeff Lynne on Cloud Nine and then joined Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Roy Orbison as The Travelling Wilburys.

A book of condolence has been opened for Harrison at Liverpool Town Hall. The city council has announced that there will be a memorial service.