West mourns Fred Wedlock

The South West is mourning the passing of Fred Wedlock – “The Oldest Swinger In Town” – who has died at the age of 67.

A prolific songwriter, Mr Wedlock had been a familiar name on the music scene for more than 40 years, producing a raft of popular comedy folk ballads as well as fronting television and radio programmes.

He leaves behind Sue, his wife of more than 40 years, and his two daughters: Hannah, who is herself a singer with the Blue Notes Jazz Band, and TV producer Lucy.

He released the Oldest Swinger in Town, which he had written in 1981, and it reached number six in the charts, with lines such as “and it takes you all night to do what you used to do all night.”

His family was inundated yesterday with calls of sympathy at their home in Timsbury, where the singer was a well-loved character.

Hannah said her father had been ill for a few weeks and was being treated for pneumonia at Bath’s Royal United Hospital but died at 6am yesterday after suffering a cardiac arrest.

She said: “It was very quick and peaceful. It’s a very sad day for our family.

“Though we have not yet made any firm funeral arrangements, my mother would like to have the funeral at St Mary Redcliffe church in Bristol, which is where they were married, and where my father had been the head chorister when he was a child growing up in Bristol.”

Mr Wedlock’s family ran a pub in Redcliffe in Bristol, and with typical humour he later recalled his earliest memory was hearing the Luftwaffe’s bombers “redesigning the centre of Bristol”.

His father and uncle both played for Bristol City and his grandfather, the famous Billy “Fatty” Wedlock, captained the England team in the years before World War I – the Wedlock Stand at Ashton Gate is named in his honour.

Mr Wedlock was a lifelong Bristol City fan, and was devoted to the city of his birth – priding himself on his love of the local dialect.

Bristol City’s chief executive Colin Sexstone paid tribute last night.

He said: “Fred came from one of the biggest family dynasties associated with the club. More than that, he was in his own right a very special fan, with a great passion for the club.

“He was always positive, always humorous. When others were down in the dumps about the club, he would be positive about it. He will be sorely missed by the club and our condolences go to his family.”

After an early career as a school teacher in some tough schools in the East End of London, Mr Wedlock went on to teach at South Bristol Technical College, before making his name as a folk singer in the 1970s.

During the course of his career, he recorded more than 20 albums of his trademark humorous folk music – with his most famous song, The Oldest Swinger In Town, reaching number six in the charts in 1981.

Derek Cleverdon, chairman of the Variety Club Children’s Charity South West, said the singer had been devoted to charitable causes.

Mr Cleverdon said: “He performed on numerous occasions for the Variety Club, and raised thousands of pounds for us over the years.

“He was supposed to be performing for us last month at a Valentine’s Day concert at the Marriott Hotel, but unfortunately he had to pull out when he was taken ill. He was a wonderful man, and this is a very sad day for everyone who knew him.”

Bristol jazz musician Cass Caswell also paid tribute to Mr Wedlock.

He said: “It was with great sadness that I heard our very special friend Fred passed away in hospital.

“Fred had been a nationally known figure ever since his brilliant hit The Oldest Swinger In Town and he had become a great friend and asset to the Variety Club and had cheered up many of our events by performing his entertaining and very funny songs.”

Dick Greener, lead singer with folk/progressive rock band The Strawbs, said: “Fred was a huge comic talent, and an all round thoroughly nice guy.”

In one of his final interviews last year, with our sister paper the Western Daily Press, Mr Wedlock was asked why he continued to live in the West Country.

He said: “Birth, upbringing, accent, family, soul – and my complete failure to think of anywhere that could possibly be better.”

When asked about the high point of his career, he said: “I’ve been very lucky, and in the right place at the right time, so I’ve had several high spots.

“I remember filling the Colston Hall for a Christmas show and my Mum and Dad sitting in the audience in tears. I remember getting a gold LP and a silver single, performing on Top Of The Pops with Legs and Co and actually being envied by the entire Bristol City team!”

When asked how he would like to be remembered, Mr Wedlock said: “When I go they’ll say a lot of nice things about me – because that’s traditional and because I’ll leave a few bob for a pretty decent party.

“I’d just like what they say to be true.”

Mr Wedlock also presented many television programmes on West Country Television.

Family friend, Paul Brimble, who is the drummer in local band the Sneakers, said he was saddened by the news.

He said: “I have known Fred for about 25 years or more and supported him many times with my previous band Spirelaine.

“More often than not we played for charity and I remember him joking ‘Hey Paul wouldn’t it be good to get paid once in a while’.

“Two weeks ago, even though Fred was seriously ill, with pneumonia he signed a CD and donated it to the Ethan smith appeal.

“He was a genuine nice good bloke proper job as we say round here.”

Leave a permanent tribute to Fred Wedlock here

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