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Though not as well known as folk comics like or , Fred was a brilliant entertainer and a witty songwriter who, like Carrott, appeared on Top Of The Pops when his version of Ed Pickford's The Oldest Swinger in Town went into the charts. Fred was no slouch as a songwriter either, he wrote the words - though not the tune - for The Folker, an apt parody of 's The Boxer. If you get a chance, look up the words to that song. It is truly wonderful.

I remember Fred as a warm and witty man, part of that great scene of wry and funny Bristol and West Country musicians that included bands like and , as well as more serious singers like and .

Fred, as well as writing funny songs, had a great love of traditional music and always included a traditional song or two in his set.Ìý I met him many times when down in Brizzle working the folk clubs there and he was always good fun to be with; a generous man without a false bone in his body.