Fred Wedlock
English folk singer (1942–2010)
title: "Fred Wedlock" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1942-births", "2010-deaths", "singers-from-bristol", "people-from-timsbury,-somerset", "english-folk-singers", "english-comedy-musicians", "deaths-from-pneumonia-in-england", "people-educated-at-bristol-grammar-school", "alumni-of-swansea-university", "scrumpy-and-western", "rocket-records-artists", "british-novelty-song-performers", "english-male-singer-songwriters", "english-male-comedians", "comedians-from-bristol", "20th-century-english-singer-songwriters", "20th-century-english-male-singers", "21st-century-english-singer-songwriters", "21st-century-english-male-singers"] description: "English folk singer (1942–2010)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fred_Wedlock" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary English folk singer (1942–2010) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox musical artist"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| 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 | |
| death_date | |
| 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 |
| :: |
| 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 = | death_date = | 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
Career
::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/32/F-Wedlock-C-Newman-Norwich-78.jpg" caption="Chris Newman]] on guitar"] ::
After attending Swansea University,{{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 |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 |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 |url= http://www.fredwedlock.com/info/ |title=Fred Wedlock |work=fredwedlock.com |accessdate=4 March 2010 |url= https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1411680.stm |title=Musical charts maritime history |publisher=BBC News|date= 28 June 2001 |access-date=4 March 2010|location=Bristol |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.
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 |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 |url= https://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 |access-date=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
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) (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
References
- (4 March 2010). "Singer Fred Wedlock dies, aged 67". Bristol News and Media.
- Welch, Chris. (31 October 2003). "What becomes of the one-hit wonders?".
- (2001). "HTV: Statement of Commitments 2002/2003". OFcom.
- (2003). "A–Z of Bristol Old Vic". University of Bristol.
- Kent, David. (1993). "Australian Chart Book 1970–1992". Australian Chart Book.
- (25 November 2008). "Freds Festive Frolic". Timsbury Parish Council.
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