RONNIE Hazlehurst, the man behind the music for Last of the Summer Wine, has died aged 79, his partner said today.
The composer and musician will be remembered for creating the music to accompany a host of hit sit-coms and TV variety shows, including Yes, Minister, Are You Being Served?, Some Mothers Do ’Ave Em, Blankety-Blank and Last Of The Summer Wine.
A former BBC Light Entertainment musical director, he was also musical director of the Eurovision Song Contest three times and conducted the British entry on seven occasions.
Jean Fitzgerald, Hazlehurst’s partner, said he died peacefully last night in Princess Elizabeth Hospital, Guernsey.
He suffered a stroke on Thursday night and never regained consciousness, she said.
She said he underwent a heart bypass operation in October last year.
“He was just a perfectionist in his profession and a very kind and generous man - to write that sort of music you have to be sensitive,” she said.
BBC executive producer Jon Plowman said: “He was the composer of many of the best-loved signature tunes of the last 40 years of television - and some of his work is still heard today.”
