Freddie and The Dreamers

Webmaster's comment:

I actually met Freddie once. It was one of those magic moments, although I am sure he may not remember :-)

I was walking through the dark passageway in the entrance to Kennedy Street Artistes, when they were in London Road, opposite Piccadilly Station.

Freddie walked past me and said "Hello mate".

Not a long conversation I admit, but one of my few meetings with the rich and famous.

I also remember seeing an actor off the telly on the 42 bus. We didn't speak.

May 2006

Saddened to hear of Freddie's passing. Click here for very good article written just a short time before, courtesy Roy Henshall (ex-Mindbenders - all two hundred of us!), Wild Life (60s) and now solo muso in the Canaries as well as freelance writer, using name Rossi) .

Memories

Eric Haydock and myself had arranged to meet Fred and the gang at the South Pier in Blackpool.

When we arrived Freddie said that they had agreed to play a football match for charity at Bloomfield Road Football Ground. North Pier vs South Pier.

Off we all went to the ground & all the big stars  appearing in Blackpool turned up including Mike Yarwood & Peter Gordino. Eric played for the Dreamers team - for my part I only ran up to the halfway line got severe cramp, was carried off & consigned to the commentary bench for the rest of the game along with Pete Birrel.

Well, the South Pier & The Dreamers with captain Freddie won the day. The trophy was presented and we all went back to the South Pier for a well earned drink, Freddie carrying the trophy in his white puma bag.

We stayed on for the show at night and it was,well it was "Freddie & the Dreamers" at their best. What a great day out it was and what wonderful memories of that day, thanks a lot guys it was appreciated. 

Brian Higham
Photos copyright B. Higham

Pete Birrel and Brian Higham	Freddie
Bernie Dwyer	The trophy
Left to right: The Dreamer's Bernie Dwyer, Eric Haydock (ex-Hollies), Pete Birrel, Roy Crewdson. Bottom: Freddie's cousin and Freddie	Eric Haydock, Pete Birrel and Freddie with the trophy
Pete Birrel	Pete Birrel

Fall of 69 I spent a week in Southhampton waiting for my ship to come in. I stayed at a small hotell close to the TopRank. That weekend Freddie And The Dreamers performed at the TopRank. As I was very fond of their music, and totally in love with "If-You-Got-A-Minute-Baby" I just had to be there.

I was lucky and got a chance to talk to Freddie. When I told him how much I liked his song he invited me to sing duo on If-You-Got-A-Minute-Baby, which I did. He introduced me to the crowed as a Norwegian Fan.

After the performance he said he was impressed of my voice. After the show we had some beers before they left. I still has the record (LP)and care for it as if it was made og gold. I will never forget that day, and what "downtoearth" persons Freddie and his band was.

I wish I could get a second chance to meet them again.

Trond E. Gebhardt-Larssen

Freddie at Sale Locarno - circa 1961/62 (left) and similar date at unknown venue (right)
(Courtesy Roy Henshall, with Freddie's permission)

The photo of Freddie with the poster in the background that reads Saturday may have been taken at Frascati's public house on Oxford Road in Manchester at about 1958-59. The two musicians on either side of Freddie were life long friends of mine, The double bass player was Peter Doherty and on guitar his brother Paddy who came from my home town of Magherafelt in N. Ireland.

Peter was a resident musician for quite a long time at the Ritz Ballroom in Manchester,And he also played jazz at the old Stork Club just off Market Street in the early sixties, His brother Paddy also played jazz around the clubs of Manchester at the same time, Sadly both of them have now passed on, Paddy died in 1973 and Peter died in 1990.

James O'Hagan

The badge is mine (Paul, webmaster) - I always thought Freddie and The Dreamers were fun (although perhaps not so cool).