Godfrey Old, the beloved musician and illustrator known as the Hampstead Heath harmonica man, has died at the age of 71 after suffering a heart attack on Sunday. He co-ran the Pentameters Theatre in Heath Street for decades with his partner, Léonie Scott-Matthews, before the theatre was told to vacate its space above a pub.
A Life of Music and Art
Mr Old was a familiar figure in Hampstead, often heard playing his harmonica in pubs or performing on the bandstand on Hampstead Heath. He was drawn to unusual sounds, from hardcore psychedelia to obscure electronic bands, blues, and soul. He performed with his group Mad Dog Bites at venues like the King William IV and the Wells Tavern.
His partner, Léonie Scott-Matthews, said: "It was love at first sight. We've been deliriously happy, working together – it's been a wonderful time. I've been very privileged to have had this time with him. He was loved by everyone, hugely talented, caring. You couldn't wish for a better person."
Family and Legacy
Their daughter, Alice Old, added: "He was an amazing father, and completely devoted to my mother. He made me who I am – everything I love was what he loved and all my gifts are from him, we were cut from the same cloth. I was looking at the moon and even looking at that reminds me of him because we'd walk and talk about where we come from. He was a beautiful philosopher."
Close friend Conrad Blakemore recalled meeting Mr Old while auditioning for a band in the 1970s. "He was very gifted in being able to listen to something and then just play it, that is the sign of a top notch musician," he said. Mr Old was inspired to learn harmonica after hearing On The Road Again by Canned Heat. Blakemore described him as "a genius, a natural performer... a soundscape artist."
Work on the Heath
From 1991 to 2018, Mr Old worked as a ranger on Hampstead Heath. Colleagues joked that he could never be found, often disappearing for hours to read philosophy in a hut. Manager Danny Murphy said: "You could never get angry at him. He knew absolutely everybody in the area. He really did love the Heath and was immensely talented."
Artistic Talents
Mr Old was also a gifted illustrator, designing posters for Heath events, retirement parties, and birthday cards. He created much of the artwork for Pentameters Theatre in a distinctive 1970s hippy cartoonist style. Known for his quirky humour and mischievous smile, he enjoyed cooking and playing records at home.
Blakemore concluded: "Hampstead has lost a lot in terms of its character and Godfrey was a little light on the horizon that kept a sense of bohemian, eccentricity, and uniqueness. He was a very talented guy. It will be a lot duller in Hampstead without Godfrey around."
