Harlow Bandstand 2025: Olly Durham plays acoustic set and then sends message to council leader over flags
Entertainment / Fri 24th Oct 2025 at 10:28am
MANY will be familiar with Harlow guitarist Olly Durham. He often plays sets across pubs in Harlow, especially The White Admiral.
Our camera caught him playing two numbers: his own composition, which we believe is called ‘Over and over again”. He then followed it by playing America’s Ventura Highway.
He ended his set by making a short speech , directed at Harlow Council leader, Dan Swords
He said: “I’ve timed my set perfectly to eighteen minutes just so I can quickly say this while I have this platform.
“I’m sure everyone is aware of the lies and misinformation spread about the purported use of Redstone House.
“I just wanted to say: Dan Swords, if you don’t back yourself to get where you want to be in your political career off your own back that’s fine that’s fine big man, but if you could avoid monopolising the rise of right wing ideology and stepping on the downtrodden to win political favour with complete lies and fabrication while stoking up flames of bigotry and racial hatred that would be greatly appreciated.
“I’ve lived in this town all my life and your actions and utter lies do not represent any of the values of th people I know and love in any of the communities here.
“Don’t be a sausage fella. Big up Harlow Town. Peace and love always. Knowledge is power. God bless”.
Jason Fryer
2025-10-24 10:37:36
I have lived here all my life and longer than Olly and seen the town go downhill from what it was as a kid - I’m sorry Olly, Dan is trying to bring our town back up and comments like yours were not necessary.
Trudi
2025-10-24 11:41:02
Stick to your music! Dan Swords is regenerating our town and supporting Harlow residents. We do not want what happened at the Bell Hotel replicated here. Who is stirring up the divisions is this Labour government by failing to protect our borders!
Olly Durham
2025-10-24 13:28:51
Hi Trudi, wanted to avoid replying or commenting beyond anything said on the day however your comment 'We don't want what happened at the Bell Hotel replicated here' is EXACTLY my point, and why I said what I said. What Dan Swords said was not only a complete and utter fabrication (I would prefer it if the elected official representing me and my town wasn't publicly lying), but also dangerous and at risk of replicating the kinds of ugly scenes seen in Epping in our own town. That is what I take issue with, and why I said what I said. Whatever people's views on the core matter are irrelevant in this instance, completely lying about something that could incite such a dangerous and volatile powder keg that is already exploding across the country is exactly why I opted to speak out.
Darren
2025-10-24 15:19:24
“I’ve lived in this town all my life and your actions and utter lies do not represent any of the values of th people I know and love in any of the communities here.". Olly, how can you speak on behalf of 70,000+ people? Do you personally know every single person living in Harlow? Just saying.
Adam
2025-10-24 15:38:58
Darren, you need to understand the words ‘people I know’.
Scotth
2025-10-24 17:19:08
We in Reform UK Harlow are working hard to get to the bottom of the Endeavour House fiasco having submitted a freedom of information request for the release of the correspondence between Cllr Swords and the consulting parties. The Cllr’s antics aside, Harlow’s character and cohesion is at risk from high levels of immigration as is the UK. We cannot sustainably continue seeing hundreds of thousands of foreigners arrive annually, some illegally, many of whom do not have English and do not/cannot undertake work. We need a sensible approach to future immigration that puts the smugglers out of business and that doesn’t distress our population and public services.
Maureen
2025-10-24 21:48:21
Scoth makes a very sensible point. This country cannot be a dumping ground for the world. Illegals arriving here should be held in fenced camps pending deportation. No one arriving illegally should have the right to claim asylum (most are just abusing our benefits otherwise they would have claimed asylum elsewhere). We need Reform to protect our borders and our country. Labour is incompetent and anti-British. 'Smash the Gangs!' They couldn't smash an egg!
Peter Lamb
2025-10-24 22:59:06
Well said Scott, wise words, no one would disagree we need a certain level of immigration but the key word is Controlled we simply can't allow undocumented mostly single males to continue to invade our shores
Brian
2025-10-25 03:07:42
Its not racial bigotry to be concerned about mass illegal immigration,if these blokes were white it would be the same problem.
Adam
2025-10-25 11:59:10
Brian, More white blokes are out raping and abusing our women and kids but the rent-a-mob don’t make as much noise about them.
Pete
2025-10-25 23:14:37
Many more white middle age men are found guilty of offences against women, than foreigners..regarding immigration it's all smoke and mirrors.we need migrants to work in Britain, because many British people don't want to work or do jobs they regard beneath them. Wealth inequality is the main reason people feel left out in life, reform/robinson and farage love ro spread BS , untruths and garbage to stir up trouble and division...they slag the country off constantly, trying to appeal to the individuals that are easy swayed..no bad how things seem for some of the people left behind in a unfair greedy society, these reform morons would be devastating to our country.
Murray Sackwild
2025-10-26 10:27:45
Murray Sackwild
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