Obituary: Ian Hartnell – Highcliffe musician who was once invited to tour with David Bowie

A TALENTED musician who was once invited to tour with David Bowie before later becoming chair of Highcliffe Residents’ Association has died at the age of 64.

Ian Hartnell was described by his wife Kathryn as a “mesmeric, larger-than-life character” who spent his youth as a keyboard player appearing with bands like The News and The Sirens, for whom he wrote a song.

But the death of his first-born child, Adam, aged just two, derailed Ian’s musical career and he later began work in the financial services industry.

Kathryn said: “Adam had a serious kidney condition and was given a transplant but sadly died.

“Ian was distraught and went off the rails for a while. He never got over Adam’s death for the rest of his life, but he was delighted when he had second son Charlie.

“He gave up his music professional life for one in finance which he proved equally as talented in.”

Ian became a partner at the London-based Smith and Williamson financial and professional services firm but never gave up music completely.

Kathryn said: “He loved to play and when he did people would flock round to listen to him. Not going on the Bowie tour was one of his biggest disappointments. He had been all set to go when it fell through.

“I was looking at photos of Ian recently when he was younger and he actually looked a lot like Bowie, which was quite funny.”

Kathryn met Ian, who was born in Woking, Surrey, at Smith and Williamson where they both worked.

She said: “We were very good friends but were both with other people. When our relationships both broke down, we fell in love. He was everything to me. I am going to miss him terribly.”

The couple moved to Highcliffe in 1998. Ian, who was then working at financial firm Grant Thornton, retired in 2015.

Kathryn said: “Typically, Ian did not sit back and take things slowly. Instead, he threw himself into working for the local community, eventually becoming chairman of the residents’ association.

“He was very involved in having the Old School renovated so that it could be used by local residents. We held his wake in it, which was fitting.

“There was a huge turnout at his funeral with one man even coming from America. He told me Ian had mentored him as a young man and helped him start his career.

“That was a story I heard all day, about how Ian had helped someone. That was Ian all over – if someone needed help, he was there.”

When he was not working for the community Ian spent time with son Charlie and one-year-old granddaughter Izzy.

Kathryn said: “He loved being with them, especially Izzy who he doted on.”

She said Ian had been ill for “a long time” but doctors could not find what was wrong with him until in the summer a chest X-ray revealed he had lung cancer.

He was about to start chemotherapy when he caught an infection and died.

Kathryn said: “He put up an enormous fight and did not want to leave. He only went when I promised him that I would always take care of Charlie and Izzy for him which I will.”

“It is sad Ian died so young. It’s obviously a huge loss to me but, I think, also to the community who he did so much for.”