Fred Wedlock

{{Infobox musical artist

| image = Fred Wedlock at Allerford Folk Festival, Somerset.jpg

| caption = Wedlock performing at Allerford Folk Festival in 2003

| name = Fred Wedlock

| background = solo_singer

| birth_name = Peter Frederick Wedlock

| birth_place = Bristol, England

| birth_date = {{birth date|1942|5|23|df=y}}

| death_date = {{Death date and age|2010|3|4|1942|5|23|df=y}}

| death_place = Bath, England

| genre = Comedy, folk, Scrumpy and Western

| occupation = Humorist, guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor

| years_active = 1960s–2010

| label = Various, see Discography

| associated_acts = Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra

}}

Peter Frederick Wedlock (23 May 1942 – 4 March 2010) was an English folk singer best known for his UK hit single "The Oldest Swinger in Town",{{cite book

| first= David

| last= Roberts

| year= 2006

| title= British Hit Singles & Albums

| edition= 19th

| publisher= Guinness World Records Limited

| location= London

| page= 595

| isbn= 1-904994-10-5}} which was covered by German comedian Karl Dall as "Der älteste Popper der Stadt". He performed at many venues in Britain and Europe, presented programmes for West Country TV and acted with the Bristol Old Vic, as well as undertaking after-dinner speaking engagements.

Early life

Fred Wedlock was born in the old Bristol Maternity Hospital in Southwell Street, Kingsdown, Bristol. He was brought up in Redcliffe, where his father ran the York House pub. He sang in the church choir at St Mary Redcliffe.{{Cite web

|url= http://www.bristolrock.co.uk/FamousBristolMusos/FredWedlock/FredWedlock.htm

|title=Fred Wedlock

|work=Bristol Rocks

|accessdate=6 March 2010

}} Wedlock was educated at Bristol Grammar School in the 1950s. He represented the school and the Old Bristolians playing hockey.

Career

File:F-Wedlock-C-Newman-Norwich-78.jpg on guitar]]

After attending Swansea University,{{cite news

|url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/mar/08/fred-wedlock-obituary

|publisher=Guardian News and Media

|accessdate=11 March 2010

}} he taught in the East End of London during the 1960s, at South Bristol College, Elm Park School Winterbourne and the Castle School, Thornbury (1969 to 1971), before taking up music full-time in the 1970s.{{Cite news|url=http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Singer-Fred-Wedlock-dies-aged-67/article-1886240-detail/article.html|title=Singer Fred Wedlock dies, aged 67|date=4 March 2010|location=Bristol|work=Bristol Evening Post|publisher=Bristol News and Media|accessdate=4 March 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20100308054312/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Singer-Fred-Wedlock-dies-aged-67/article-1886240-detail/article.html|archivedate=8 March 2010}} Wedlock was a regular performer at the Bristol Troubadour Club and he played the folk circuit, both prior to, and in the wake of, his single chart success, with performances at clubs and festivals all over the world. He also presented many programmes on West Country TV including Bargain Hunters on HTV.{{Cite web|url=http://www.theguardian.com/books/2003/oct/31/music|title=What becomes of the one-hit wonders?|first=Chris|last=Welch|date=31 October 2003|website=The Guardian}}{{cite web|url=http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/archive/itc/uploads/HTV_Statement_of_Programme_Commitment_2002.doc|title=HTV: Statement of Commitments 2002/2003|format=MSWord|year=2001|publisher=OFcom|accessdate=4 March 2010}}{{Cite web

|url= http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/397288

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110111032750/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/397288

|url-status= dead

|archive-date= 11 January 2011

|publisher=BFI | title=Wholly Wedlock

|work=Film & TV Database

|accessdate=4 March 2010

}}{{Cite web

|url= http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/543847

|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100308160343/http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/title/543847

|url-status= dead

|archive-date= 8 March 2010

|publisher=BFI |title= Entertaining Mr Wedlock (1996)

|work=Film & TV Database

|accessdate=4 March 2010

}} In 1997 Wedlock took a leading role in Bristol Old Vic's production of Up the Feeder, Down the Mouth, a theatrical history of Bristol Docks, written by A. C. H. Smith. In 2001 the production was restaged on the waterfront.{{Cite web

|url= http://www.fredwedlock.com/info/

|title=Fred Wedlock

|work=fredwedlock.com

|accessdate=4 March 2010

}}{{Cite news

|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1411680.stm

|title=Musical charts maritime history

|publisher=BBC News|date= 28 June 2001

|accessdate=4 March 2010|location=Bristol

}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.bris.ac.uk/theatrecollection/atoz_booklet.pdf|title=A–Z of Bristol Old Vic|year=2003|page=6|work=Bristol University Theatre Collection|publisher=University of Bristol|accessdate=4 March 2010|url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110607071810/http://www.bris.ac.uk/theatrecollection/atoz_booklet.pdf|archivedate=7 June 2011}} He also appeared in several productions for Bristol theatre company, The Ministry of Entertainment, most recently in December 2009.{{Cite web

|url= http://www.ministryofentertainment.co.uk/

|title=Ministry of Entertainment

|work=ministryofentertainment.co.uk

|accessdate=4 March 2010

}}

Wedlock's albums include The Folker (1971) (notable for the title track parody of "The Boxer" by Simon and Garfunkel), Frollicks (1973), Out of Wedlock (1978), The Oldest Swinger in Town (1981) and Fred Wedlock Live (1982). In early 1981 "The Oldest Swinger in Town", reached number 6 in the UK Singles Chart. The song was subsequently released in Australia where it peaked at number 60.{{cite book|last=Kent|first=David|authorlink=David Kent (historian)|title=Australian Chart Book 1970–1992|edition=illustrated|publisher=Australian Chart Book|location=St Ives, N.S.W.|year=1993|isbn=0-646-11917-6|page=334}}

His daughter, Hannah Wedlock, was an occasional member of the Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra, another Bristol-based outfit, whom Fred made his support band at an early stage of their career.{{Cite web

|url = http://www.somersetmade.co.uk/scrumpyandwestern/pigstyhillightorchestra.php

|title = The Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra

|work = Scrumpy & Western

|accessdate = 4 March 2010

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20080725193422/http://www.somersetmade.co.uk/scrumpyandwestern/pigstyhillightorchestra.php

|archivedate = 25 July 2008

}} She now performs with the Blue Note Jazz Band. His grandfather, Billy Wedlock, captained Bristol City F.C. and was a regular for England in the early 20th century. The former Wedlock Stand at Ashton Gate was named in his honour.{{Cite web

|url = http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10327~1984155,00.html

|title = Fred Wedlock 1942–2010

|publisher = Bristol City F C

|accessdate = 4 March 2010

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100306022512/http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10327~1984155,00.html

|archivedate = 6 March 2010

}} He lived at Amesbury near Timsbury, Somerset where for many years he contributed to village life by providing entertainment and helping with raising funds for local projects.{{cite web|url=http://www.timsbury.net/freds-festive-frolic/|title=Freds Festive Frolic|date=25 November 2008|publisher=Timsbury Parish Council|accessdate=4 March 2010|url-status=usurped|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724104746/http://www.timsbury.net/freds-festive-frolic/|archivedate=24 July 2011}}{{Cite news

|url= http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8549000/8549709.stm

|title=Oldest swinger in town' dies at the age of 67|date=4 March 2010

|publisher=BBC News|location=London

|accessdate=4 March 2010}}

Death

It was announced on 4 March 2010 that Fred Wedlock had died, in hospital in Bath, Somerset, following a heart attack, after having contracted pneumonia.{{Cite news

|url= http://www.thisisbath.co.uk/entertainment/Singer-Fred-Wedlock-dies/article-1885763-detail/article.html

|title=Singer Fred Wedlock dies

|work=Bath Chronicle|publisher=Bath News and Media|location=Bath|date=4 March 2010

|accessdate=4 March 2010}} Dick Greener of Strawbs Web, the website of folk rock band The Strawbs, said that he was "A huge comic talent, and an all round thoroughly nice guy, I know ... those who have seen Fred in the past during his long and successful career, would want to pass on their condolences to Fred's family."{{Cite web

|url= http://www.strawbsweb.co.uk/index0.htm

|title=The Strawbs Official Home Page

|work=StrawbsWeb|date=4 March 2010

|accessdate=4 March 2010|last=Greener|first=Dick

}} Derek Cleverdon, chairman of the Variety Club Children's Charity South West, said Wedlock was also devoted to charitable causes. "He performed on numerous occasions for the Variety Club, and raised thousands of pounds for us over the years."

A large number of people attended a funeral service held at St Mary Redcliffe church on 15 March 2010. Family and friends paid homage with tributes and songs. A local press report said that "he filled Bristol's largest church to capacity."{{Cite web

|url = http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Hundreds-turn-funeral-loved-Bristol-entertainer-Fred-Wedlock/article-1916315-detail/article.html

|title = Hundreds turn out for the funeral of much-loved Bristol entertainer Fred Wedlock

|work = Bristol Evening Post

|date = 16 March 2010

|publisher = Bristol News and Media

|accessdate = 16 March 2010

|url-status = dead

|archiveurl = https://web.archive.org/web/20100322231938/http://www.thisisbristol.co.uk/homepage/Hundreds-turn-funeral-loved-Bristol-entertainer-Fred-Wedlock/article-1916315-detail/article.html

|archivedate = 22 March 2010

}}

Wedlock was survived by his wife and two daughters.{{Cite web|url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/mar/08/fred-wedlock-obituary

|title = Fred Wedlock obituary

|work = The Guardian

|date = 8 March 2010

|author = Derek Schofield

|accessdate = 25 November 2020

}}

Personal papers and recordings

Videos and CDs of television programmes and performances, promotional photographs and press cuttings, song lyrics, jokes, scripts, research notes, papers and correspondence are held by Bristol Archives (Ref. 44790) ([http://archives.bristol.gov.uk/Record.aspx?src=CalmView.Catalog&id=44790&pos=1 online catalogue]).

Summary discography

The Folker – Village Thing VTS 7, 1971{{Cite web

|url = http://www.somersetmade.co.uk/scrumpyandwestern/fredwedlock.php

|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080725193719/http://www.somersetmade.co.uk/scrumpyandwestern/fredwedlock.php

|url-status = dead

|archive-date = 25 July 2008

|title = Fred Wedlock

|work = Scrumpy & Western

|accessdate = 4 March 2010

}}

Frollicks – Village Thing VTS 20, 1973
Home Made – Pillock Produckshuns PPS1, 1975
Greatest Hits (not a compilation as the title suggests: new live recordings of songs predominantly from his first two albums) – Pillock Produckshuns PPS17, 1977
Out of Wedlock – One Up OU2217, 1978
The Oldest Swinger in Town (with Chris Newman) – Pillock Produckshuns PPS 271, 1979
The Oldest Swinger in Town (different track listing) – Rocket TRAIN 13, 1981
Live (with Chris Newman) – Rocket TRAIN 19, 1982
The Complete 'Folker' and 'Frollicks' Albums – Village Thing, 2008
Wrinklies' Revolution – own label{{Cite web

|url= http://www.fredwedlock.com/recordings/

|title=Fred Wedlock

|work=fredwedlock.com

|accessdate=4 March 2010

}}

Souvenir – own label
Something Old, Something New – own label
Festive Fred – own label

References

External links

[http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/8549732.stm Video tribute from BBC West]
[https://web.archive.org/web/20190828232902/https://fredwedlock.com/ Official website] archived from the [https://fredwedlock.com/ original] on 28 August 2019.

Category:1942 births

Category:2010 deaths

Category:Singers from Bristol

Category:People from Timsbury, Somerset

Category:English folk singers

Category:English comedy musicians

Category:Deaths from pneumonia in England

Category:People educated at Bristol Grammar School

Category:Alumni of Swansea University

Category:Scrumpy and Western

Category:Rocket Records artists

Category:British novelty song performers