A child of Salford was laid to rest today. One who spent his life fulfilling a mission to create a visual archive of his changing city.
The funeral of artist Harold Francis Riley took place at St Luke's RC Church. On its walls, are displayed his drawings and paintings of the stations of the cross, which depict Jesus Christ's last day on earth and journey to Calvary. On January 13th 1935 he had been baptised in an older version of the same church nearby where a community centre now stands in Irlams o' th' Height.
The stained glass windows of the church were based on his designs - including Our Lady of Salford inspired by his painting of the same name. Canon Michael Cooke who conducted the service told a packed church of Harold's "life-long love of Salford" his "kindness and generosity" and "depth of faith".
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The Order of Service booklet, was a work of art in itself. On the front cover was not the man, but his painting Our Lady of Salford, showing Mary, hands clapsed, against a backdrop of the neon-lit backstreets of the city and an orange sky. Harold refused to call the city's terraces slums, but instead "theatres of colour".
Cannon Cooke said that despsite his career leading to Harold mingling with the famous - including world leaders, sporting legends - "he never lost touch with his roots". It was while a student in Florence, Italy that he had seen the stations of the cross and decided one day he would create that in his own church.
In a eulogy Harold's daughter, Sara, described her father as being "good at everything" including football - he played for Manchester United's juniors - acting, artist, and photographer. He was also an accomplished public speaker and gave the eulogy at Sir Matt Busby's funeral.
Sara said: "He was a creative genius who loved his vocation. He would draw on menus, newspapers, and while in hospital even pillow cases. He would regularly strike up conversations in the street with people who would be enchanted by his charm." She added that although he was a "child of Salford" and dedicated to the city and his work he gave the best of himself to his family and friends and was "a beautiful soul".
She added: "My dad loved to laugh. The kind of mirth that left your sides aching...he had a wicked sense of humour. He was kind, humble, and friendly. My father loved life."
Sara's daughter, Saffron, played electric guitar and sang a hauntingly touching version of the Charlie Chaplin song, Smile, recorded by Nat King Cole. Another of Harold's grandchildren, Luke, gave a reading.
Among those paying their respects were his close friend, Sir Alex Ferguson, of whom he did a portrait and presented in 2000 with a painting of The Cliff training ground in Higher Broughton, Salford, where many of the Reds successes were plotted.
Others attending the full requiem mass were the City Mayor, Paul Dennett, ceremonial mayor, Ann-Marie Humphreys; and representatives from The Lowry art centre, and Salford Museum and Art Gallery, United and Wales star, Ryan Giggs; and Salford lad, bookmaker, Fred Done.
Harold used his skill to record Salford's streets, churches, rooftops, a chip shop in Langworthy, and 'ordinary people' in Hanky Park, the old woman in a shawl, and urchin kids playing in back alleys. He was an accomplished portraitist - with Sir Alex, Denis Law, US presidents, Gerald Ford, and John F Kennedy, three Popes, and Nelson Mandela being among his subjects. But so too was a woman who before fame played the piano at the art-deco Ambassador cinema in Langworthy Road, Salford, - Violet Carson, who played Ena Sharples in Coronation Street. His portrait of her was complete with her character's hairnet.
Following the service a private burial took place at Weaste Cemetery. Harold's daugter, Kate, matching her dad's sense of humour, said: "My dad did a sketch of the cemetery - it showed a dog having wee against the cemetery gates."
The funeral courtege was driven down Liverpool Street past where Kara Street once stood - his first home in Seedley, and Lancaster Road, where he his first studio, and The Crescent past Salford Museum and Art Gallery, and his archives in Fire Station Square as well as stopping outside council headquarters at Swinton Civic Centre. As a young man Harold turned down the chace to teach art in Cheltenham and instead took a part time teaching post in Salford, where he continued to live.
Harold's deep affection for his home town cemented a friendship with LS Lowry which began when Harold was a student. Together they worked a project to record the area and its people.
In 1962 Harold married Hannelore Reuter and they had a daughter, Kate. Hannelore died in 1973 and in 1975 Harold married Ashraf Danesh, with whom he ahd daughter, Sara.
Harold's football pictures centred largely around his links with United, but he also sketched Manchester City legends, Colin Bell and Francis Lee. As the funeral service ended a man who had sat quietly alone throughout the service, resepectfully kneeling for parts of it, crossed himself as Harold's coffin was carried from the church. It was Brian Kidd, a Catholic lad from Collyhurst - and a legend at both United and City - who recognised both the greatness and humble nature of the artist.
Donations in Harold's memory can be given to the Salford Children's Holiday Camp at http://www.justgiving.com/fundrasing/harold-riley.
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