Editing Fred Wedlock

{{Short description|English folk singer (1942–2010)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2012}}
{{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, Somerset|Bath]], England
| genre             = [[Comedy music|Comedy]], [[folk music|folk]], [[Scrumpy and Western]]
| occupation        = [[Humorist]], guitarist, singer, songwriter, actor
| years_active      = 1960s–2010
| label             = Various, see [[#Summary discography|Discography]]
| associated_acts   = [[Pigsty Hill Light Orchestra]]
}}
'''Peter Frederick Wedlock''' (23 May 1942 &ndash; 4 March 2010) was an English [[folk music|folk]] singer best known for his UK [[hit record|hit]] [[single (music)|single]] "The Oldest Swinger in Town",<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{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}}</ref> 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 [[public house|pub]]. He sang in the church choir at [[St Mary Redcliffe]].<ref name="BristolRocks">{{Cite web
 |url= http://www.bristolrock.co.uk/FamousBristolMusos/FredWedlock/FredWedlock.htm
 |title=Fred Wedlock
 |work=Bristol Rocks
 |accessdate=6 March 2010
}}</ref> Wedlock was educated at [[Bristol Grammar School]] in the 1950s. He represented the school and the Old Bristolians playing hockey.<ref name="BristolRocks"/>

==Career==
[[File:F-Wedlock-C-Newman-Norwich-78.jpg|thumb|Wedlock in 1978, accompanied by [[Chris Newman (guitarist)|Chris Newman]] on guitar]]
After attending [[Swansea University]],<ref>{{cite news
 |url= https://www.theguardian.com/music/2010/mar/08/fred-wedlock-obituary
 |title=Fred Wedlock obituary |work=The Guardian|date=8 March 2010|location=London|last=Schofield|first=Derek
 |publisher=Guardian News and Media
 |accessdate=11 March 2010
}}</ref> 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.<ref name="EPost">{{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}}</ref> 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 [[record chart|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 [[ITV Wales & West|HTV]].<ref>{{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}}</ref><ref name="htvstatement">{{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}}</ref><ref>{{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
}}</ref><ref>{{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
}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url= http://www.fredwedlock.com/info/
 |title=Fred Wedlock
 |work=fredwedlock.com
 |accessdate=4 March 2010
}}</ref><ref>{{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
}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bris.ac.uk/theatrecollection/atoz_booklet.pdf|title=A&ndash;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}}</ref> He also appeared in several productions for Bristol theatre company, The Ministry of Entertainment, most recently in December 2009.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url= http://www.ministryofentertainment.co.uk/
 |title=Ministry of Entertainment
 |work=ministryofentertainment.co.uk
 |accessdate=4 March 2010
}}</ref>

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]].<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> The song was subsequently released in Australia where it peaked at number 60.<ref name=aus>{{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}}</ref>

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.<ref>{{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
}}</ref> She now performs with the Blue Note Jazz Band.<ref name="BristolRocks"/> His grandfather, [[Billy Wedlock]], captained [[Bristol City F.C.]] and was a regular for [[England national football team|England]] in the early 20th century. The former Wedlock Stand at [[Ashton Gate Stadium|Ashton Gate]] was named in his honour.<ref>{{Cite web
 |url         = http://www.bcfc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10327~1984155,00.html
 |title       = Fred Wedlock 1942&ndash;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
}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Timsbury Community Website">{{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}}</ref><ref name="BBCdeathnotice">{{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}}</ref>

==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.<ref name="EPost"/><ref name="BBCdeathnotice"/><ref>{{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}}</ref> Dick Greener of ''Strawbs Web'', the website of [[folk rock]] band [[Strawbs|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."<ref>{{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
}}</ref> Derek Cleverdon, chairman of the [[Variety, the Children's Charity|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."<ref name="EPost"/>

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."<ref>{{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
}}</ref>

Wedlock was survived by his wife and two daughters.<ref>{{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
}}</ref>

==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<ref name="discog">{{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
}}</ref>
*''Frollicks'' – Village Thing VTS 20, 1973<ref name="discog"/>
*''Home Made'' – Pillock Produckshuns PPS1, 1975<ref name="discog"/>
*''Greatest Hits'' (not a compilation as the title suggests: new live recordings of songs predominantly from his first two albums) – Pillock Produckshuns PPS17, 1977<ref name="discog"/>
*''Out of Wedlock'' – One Up OU2217, 1978<ref name="discog"/>
*''The Oldest Swinger in Town'' (with [[Chris Newman (guitarist)|Chris Newman]]) – Pillock Produckshuns PPS 271, 1979<ref name="discog"/>
*''The Oldest Swinger in Town'' (different track listing) – Rocket TRAIN 13, 1981<ref name="discog"/>
*''Live'' (with [[Chris Newman (guitarist)|Chris Newman]]) – Rocket TRAIN 19, 1982<ref name="discog"/>
*''The Complete 'Folker' and 'Frollicks' Albums''  – Village Thing, 2008<ref name="discog"/>
*''Wrinklies' Revolution'' – own label<ref name="ownlabel">{{Cite web
 |url= http://www.fredwedlock.com/recordings/
 |title=Fred Wedlock
 |work=fredwedlock.com
 |accessdate=4 March 2010
}}</ref>
*''Souvenir'' – own label<ref name="ownlabel"/>
*''Something Old, Something New'' – own label<ref name="ownlabel"/>
*''Festive Fred'' – own label<ref name="ownlabel"/>

==See also==
*[[Scrumpy and Western]]
*''[[Scrumpy & Western EP]]''

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==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.

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Wedlock, Fred}}
[[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]]
[[Category:English male singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:English male comedians]]
[[Category:Comedians from Bristol]]
[[Category:20th-century English singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:20th-century English male singers]]
[[Category:21st-century English singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century English male singers]]