London has held a memorial service for Jimmy Hardwick--the beloved resident pianist at Joe Allen restaurant.
Hardwick died in January, and his service was held at St. Paul's, the so-called "actors' Church" in Covent Garden.
His was the face and his were the melodies that greeted diners at the restaurant, often frequented by the leading lights of the West End.
And Hardwick knew whom it was he was playing for. Ever smiling, he would slip musical references to the guests of the evening into his repertoire.
I well recall entering the restaurant in conversation with the ever-erudite Herbert Kretzmer, former television critic and now the acclaimed lyricist of Les Miserables and various hit songs. As soon as he entered, everything stopped as Hardwick delivered a delightful rendition of "She," the number Kretzmer had written with Charles Aznavour.
He was quietly delighted. They all were when Jimmy paid tribute.
