Paul Hart
8 December 1950 - 10 May 2008
Paul Hart came to teach at Bryanston School in 1995 because of his expertise as a graphic artist, teaching product design and specialising in graphics to A level. His talent was apparent each year as his candidates displayed their work for assessment to the highest of standards. He would give unlimited time to guide interested pupils into the details of his subject, and his lesson guides were of such high quality that they have been used instead of textbooks. Paul had several strings to his bow and was inspirational in the coaching of running and athletics, the making and playing of guitars, his love of Blues music, his passion for Gibson guitars, and his caring nature in providing workshops for young musicians.
His passion for running developed when he was a schoolboy, coached by Harold Tarraway, a Bryanston teacher. His knowledge of the sport was remarkable as he knew every detail of every race and the times runners achieved, and also the methods of coaching used. He ran with Sebastian Coe and David Bedford in his youth and enjoyed passing on enthusiasm and skills to young athletes in the cross country and athletics clubs, although he was always a modest man.
He played a Gibson guitar and, in his quest for knowledge, had become an expert in the genuine article and the construction and fine detail of them. He played an important role in the construction of pupil-made guitars at school. One of his recent artistic feats associated with Gibson guitars was that he was commissioned to decorate an enlarged version of one for James Blunt for the Guitar Town Exhibition in London. This success was followed by another commission from Gibson to do the creative work on a bass guitar for Jack Bruce of Cream. Paul played guitar to the pupils at school on many occasions and often brought bands into the school, a memorable one being the Barrel House Blues Orchestra, the largest blues orchestra at the time.
My impression was of a gentle man, expert in his field of graphics, passionate about long-distance running, and a different person when performing with his guitar. I could not believe that the man performing on the stage was the same quiet man I worked with. We will miss his enthusiasm and expertise, and his quiet determination.
Ian Haslam
Design and Technology
Paul was an artist, musician, teacher, event organiser, athletics coach and community activist. He loved and identified with the Blackmore Vale and was acutely aware of its history, literature, human and physical geography. He was particularly inspired by the writings of poet William Barnes. He was a passionate man. A passionate believer in local distinctiveness and the need to preserve the values and knowledge of the indigenous community, he was deeply involved in the cultural and political life of Sturminster Newton.
He studied at Bournemouth, Darlington and Winchester Art College and at Durham University, where he discovered his love of painting and music.
He was the founder and organiser of the Barrel House Blues Club and band, including the legendary Barrel House Rhythm and Blues Orchestra and Choir and the Barrel House Blues Band, introducing many internationally acclaimed musicians to the local area. He was a gifted guitarist with a particular penchant for blues and jazz.
He was an accomplished artist, graphic and textiles designer and much loved teacher of design at Bryanston School, where he had worked since 1993. He exhibited most recently at the Exchange in Sturminster and at the Gibson Guitar Exhibition in London, where he collaborated with musicians James Blunt and Jack Bruce in 2007.
He undertook many commissions, including a 10 x 30 foot mural in Sturminster Newton for Southern Co-operatives.
He was also an actor on the digital and internet radio drama serial, Middle Ditch, in which he played Alan, the village pub landlord.
He was an outstanding athlete and cross country runner at national level, attaining age best times over several distances during a long and injury-prone career. He subsequently turned to coaching, embracing new technology and techniques and competing in the veteran Olympics. A tough and disciplined runner, he was most supportive of emerging runners and admired throughout the sport. He founded the local running club, the Dorset Doddlers, in 1983, organising races, welcoming new members, including several OBs, and sharing his expertise and enthusiasm.
His main passion, though, was Sturminster Newton and he was an integral part of the movement to regenerate the town following the loss of the livestock market in 1997.
He touched the lives of many people and will be greatly missed as a caring and charitable man leaving behind a legacy of shared enthusiasms and great joy.
Thank you, Paul.
David Caddy
12 May 2008
A Tribute to Paul Hart
I remember, as a seven year old, first seeing Paul winning the 1981 Shaston Goldrush – a gruelling race through the streets of Shaftesbury, ending with a steep climb up Gold Hill.
The next time we (my brother and I) saw him was at the Barrel house Blues Club when it first opened in the late eighties – both Richard and I went along for jam sessions, and supported Paul’s band at a school prom in Wimborne. We recorded a tune together for the London Marathon and did half the race ourselves – Paul kept everyone’s spirits constantly high.
Paul always encouraged us and complimented us on our musical endeavours, and doing a gig with him always gave both of us real enjoyment – his ability to giving to the community will be something that I will miss, but remember fondly.
Paul’s enormous ability in the arts, music and athletics made him a local and much loved celebrity, and it is comforting to read all the other tributes and newspaper articles about him. Thanks Paul, for everything you’ve done for us and for Dorset.
Dan Baker
Music Department
I first knew Paul Hart via his art. In the 1970s I much admired some drawings of his grandfather at work as a blacksmith, which hung in a local pub. I purchased copies of those prints. Later, I knew him as a member of the Dorset Doddlers Running Club in Sturminster Newton. His talent as a musician was not revealed to me until much later.
When his name was mentioned as an applicant for the graphics post in the Design Technology Department, I enthusiastically extolled his talents to Frank and once Paul was in post, we soon became friends. In the 1990s Bryanston employed a memorable CDT teacher, Phil Wells – a Tasmanian and keen swimmer and diver. He encouraged me to take up diving and we subsequently arranged a school trip to the Red Sea. Paul accompanied us on that trip. His natural environment was not the water but he thoroughly enjoyed snorkelling. Due to the incredible clarity of the water, we saw some wonderful coral and amazing fish. I particularly remember a very hot day when we were out with a dive boat miles away from land, visiting some coral atolls. We had finished our dives but nobody wanted to get out of the water, as it was so warm. The clarity was such that the sun’s rays bounced off the bottom of the seabed and appeared as huge columns of light, which seemed almost solid. Paul and I played on the pillars of light and bounced around on top of the bubbles of air that came up from the remaining divers below us. It was a moment of utter carefree pleasure and enjoyment. Paul reminded me that such moments were rare in life and we should hold on to that memory. I have always done so.
It was on this same trip that I found out that Paul was also a talented singer and guitarist. On the final evening of our holiday we took the pupils out to a local restaurant and to listen to a duo singing in the bar. Paul disappeared for a short while and a few minutes later one of the players announced that a guest from England would like to play. To our amazement Paul took to the stage and pretty soon the whole place was rocking. He received a huge ovation from everyone in the place, somewhat to the chagrin of the duo employed to entertain! Paul sat back down with us, modest as ever, as if nothing had happened.
Paul and I often sat over supper at Bryanston and had long involved discussions about our current emotional states! I always teased him about his ‘old girlfriends’, which were numerous. He was kind, wise, sensitive and incredibly intuitive with regard to other people’s human relationships but not so good about his own!
When we were both on duty in the Technology faculty in the evening, he would tend to appear upstairs, in need of keys for cupboards or photocopying rooms. He had always lost his own. He would work long into the evenings on beautifully crafted drawings for his pupils. It was a joy to watch him sketch.
I am so pleased Paul had established The Barrelhouse and his art classes at The Exchange. The ‘Cast Off Kinks’ were playing at the last concert. It was a fantastic evening. During the interval I congratulated Paul on the fact that the venue attracted enthusiasts of all ages. It really was a community event. After the interval, some of the adults joined the youngsters down at the front of the stage to sing and dance along with all the old Kinks hits. Paul joined me briefly and caught hold of my hands as we swayed to the music. The following Monday he told me how happy he was that I had enjoyed the concert.
Paul took pleasure from other people’s enjoyment. He was generous with his talents, time and emotions. He was a very special and unique friend to me. I miss him.
Julie Little
3 June 2008
