Warm tributes to ‘bloody legend’ Vince Hill

TRIBUTES have been paid to singer and entertainer Vince Hill.

The man described as one of the best performers of his generation passed away peacefully at his home in Shiplake on Saturday, aged 89.

Hill, who became a household name for his 1967 cover of Edelweiss from The Sound of Music film, had been in showbusiness for more than 50 years.

He performed with the likes of Vera Lynn, Tony Christie and Cilla Black and had a string of hits in the Sixties and Seventies.

Mike Hurst, an original member of the Springfields who had toured with Hill, said his talent as a singer in his heyday was up there with the world’s best at the time.

He said: “Vince was one of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet. There were no edges to him. He was just Vince Hill and he had a great voice.

“At the time we had the Beatles but he had already made his name. We did lots of shows and concert tours with him and he was just a lovely guy.

“To my mind, there were two brilliant singers in the Sixties who were doing straight good music — one was Matt Monro and the other was Vince Hill.

“In America, you had Sammy Davis Jnr and Frank Sinatra, who were worldwide stars so it was difficult not to be eclipsed by them but in terms of talent, Vince was up there in the upper echelons of popular music.”

Artist Bill Mundy had been friends with Hill for 40 years, said: “When I came back from the Far East to live in Henley I had an exhibition at Park Place about a year later and met him and we became great friends.

“We played tennis together and would go on boats all the time and had many dinners. He was a very nice man.”

Mr Mundy produced a large watercolour of Hill, entitled Vince Hill — This Is Your Life and described the experience painting it as “interesting”.

He said: “It was fascinating to collect all the items that appeared in the painting when I brought them home to my desk to compose the painting.

“When I was about halfway done I had taken it to his house and showed the housekeeper and asked her to look at the shirt he was wearing.

She replied: ‘Haven’t I ironed it?’ I showed her that in the crease of the collar I had hidden the words ‘Vince Hill’.

“I do like to put a secret into my large paintings if I can. When I’d finished it Vince loved it.”

Lyricist Sir Tim Rice, who lives near Hambleden, got to know Hill when he worked as personal assistant to the late producer Bob Barratt at EMI Records.

He wrote that he was a “top ballad singer” and “lovely fellow” who had “impeccable phrasing and tone”.

Singer Linda Nolan, who performed with her sisters in The Nolans, said the singer’s death was “devastating for all of us”.

Writing on Twitter, she said: “Vince was a huge supporter of us on his TV show during the Seventies and remained a good friend of the family.”

Hill’s good friend Les Dennis, the actor and TV presenter, tweeted: “Heard the news driving home tonight and cried.

Did two summer seasons with Vince. He was brilliant on stage and, more importantly, he was a lovely man.

“Remember visiting him and Annie at their beautiful home in Henley. They welcomed Dustin [Gee] and me and we had a lovely evening. RIP X.”

Radio presenter Tony Blackburn said: “So sorry to hear that singer Vince Hill passed away yesterday.

“We were in the same agency in the Sixties and he was a very nice guy. He had a great voice and his version of Edelweiss in 1967 was a big hit. RIP, Vince.”

Singer Lyn Paul wrote: “Oh no! One of the nicest guys I had the pleasure of working with. RIP, Vince. Xx”

Former boxer Frank Bruno, who worked with Hill on charity shows, called him the “ultimate professional”.

He wrote: “I remember once a mic stand suddenly collapsed on him when he was about to start to sing a song.

“He said, ‘Let’s do that intro again’ and he carried on cool as a cucumber.”

Hill was a big supporter of community events in Henley and was always willing to perform.

He was devoted to his wife Annie, to whom he was married for more than 50 years until her death in 2016.

Former Henley mayor Elizabeth Hodgkin said: “Vince was just a very nice person, a very approachable and friendly man.

“I first got to know him when he sang for the Mayor’s Christmas party for the old folk, which he did extremely well and gave his time freely.

“I also remember him and Annie together. She was lovely, too.

“I asked him to present prizes in one of the categories of the annual Henley in Bloom awards and he did that for several years because he loved doing it and was very pleased to be asked.

“We always went out for a meal afterwards and he was very good company.

“I feel sad but at 89 I guess it was not unexpected but he will be missed. He was part of Henley, part of the community, he didn’t sit in an ivory tower.

“He enjoyed the area and Henley took him to its heart. It is the end of another era. He was always so kind to everybody and treated everybody equally and that’s what I liked about him.”

Town councillor Gill Dodds, also a former mayor, said: “Vince was a lovely guy. When I was mayor he sang at the Christmas party and Edelweiss was always the favourite one.

“He would help members of the 60+ Club and the members loved him.

“My memories of him came later and when I worked at the Hart Surgery and he would come in with Annie. They had such a wonderful relationship.

“I remember him explaining to me about their favourite fish restaurant and Malcolm, my late husband, and I used to go and also enjoy it and would say that it was Vince’s recommendation.

“Another time was at a Henley Standard drinks party when I asked him about his early days.

“He was quite a heartthrob in the Fifties and his relationship with Annie survived all the pressures that came with that and they were totally devoted to each other.

“Then, when their son Athol came along, they were so overjoyed to have a baby boy.

“I sent a WhatsApp round the councillors to tell them the news of his death and it was amazing to hear how so many people had stories about him.”

Wendy Bowsher, former managing director of the Kenton Theatre in New Street, said Hill played a key role in preserving the future of the venue.

She said: “When we were raising money through the Kenton for Keeps appeal, which helps us buy the freehold of the building, the theatre’s trustees and I organised a very large lunch and Vince was one of those people who came along.

“He was just delightful — a lovely, kind and gentle man.

“I asked him about coming out of retirement and doing a show for the Kenton and he did exactly that and raised a lot of money.

“Vince would always give up his time to help the theatre and you can’t put a figure on that.”

Julie Huntington, who chairs the trustees of the Kenton, said: “Vince had a really big heart and would do anything for the theatre.

“He came out of retirement at least three times to do concerts for us and was always there with a smile. We will all miss him. I’m sure he will be putting on a concert up there, too.”

The singer’s family released a statement on Saturday which read: “Sadly, we have to share news none of us want to hear. We’re very sorry to have to tell you Vince has left us.

“He passed peacefully at home. Vince created a musical legacy… his tunes will remain forever in our hearts.

“Here’s to you, V… you bloody legend.”

Full obituary in this week’s Henley Standard.