BuffHello Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Friday, 2 June 2006, 17:34 GMT 18:34 UK Funeral held for singer Freddie Freddie Garrity - picture courtesy of MEN Syndication Freddie Garrity was famed for his energetic dance moves The funeral of singer Freddie Garrity took place in his home county of Staffordshire on Friday. The lead singer of the 1960s pop band Freddie and the Dreamers, who lived in Newcastle-under-Lyme, died last month while on holiday in Wales. He was 69. Sixties pop stars were among hundreds of mourners who lined the streets of Stoke-on-Trent to pay their respects. A jester's hat was placed on his coffin as it was taken to Carmountside Crematorium. Mourners included Brian Poole from Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, Tony Crane from the Merseybeats, Titch from Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick and Titch and members of Herman's Hermits. 'Full of fun' Freddie and the Dreamers' member Nick St John-Foti said he was feeling very upset. "I was in his last band, so it's an upsetting day for me, but Freddie was full of fun and he wouldn't want us to be upset because he was the Prince of Mirth," he said. Mr Garrity was with his wife Christine in Bangor when he was taken to hospital. He had been ill for several years and died on 19 May. He was born in Manchester and married three times, leaving four children. His hits included You Were Made For Me and I'm Telling You Now. bbc.co.uk ************ GARRITY JOKES FROM THE GRAVE Movie & Entertainment News provided by World Entertainment News Network (www.wenn.com) 2006-06-03 15:59:49 - Late sixties pop idol FREDDIE GARRITY said farewell to fans yesterday (02JUN06) by cracking jokes from the grave. Hundreds were left weeping and laughing by a letter the FREDDIE AND THE DREAMERS frontman had written for his own funeral service. The speech told mourners: "It is all right for you lot sat there but it's not much fun for me lying in this box. "I've got a stiff neck, thank goodness I stopped taking Viagra tablets otherwise they would not have been able to close the lid on the coffin. "I don't want any tears. I want everyone to smile and remember me as I was." Garrity died aged 69 from a heart condition on 19 May (06). *********** Tribute to Dreamers' frontman, Freddie A long-time friend of Sixties idol Freddie Garrity, who created a special room at his Downham museum in the singer's honour, has paid tribute to the star after he died in hospital on Friday. Freddie (69) became a household name in the '60s as the exuberant frontman of Freddie and The Dreamers and the five-piece went on to have success in both Britain and America with chart-topping hits including You Were Made For Me. Sadly the star, known for his trademark high-kicking stage antics, died in hospital in North Wales on Friday after suffering circulation difficulties. Eric St John-Foti, owner of Downham's Collectors' World, which includes a room dedicated to Freddie, said he had been saddened by the news. Mr St John-Foti got to know Freddie through his son, Nicholas St John-Foti, after he became a member of The Dreamers. And he said his son was now hoping to reunite members of the group for a concert in memory of Freddie which could possibly be held in Norfolk. Remembering his friend Mr St John-Foti said: "He was exactly the same on stage as off stage. He was always joking and laughing." One of Freddie's last public appearances was when he and The Dreamers played at Downham Town Hall for the town festival in 2000. The singer had previously visited Collectors' World, at Hermitage Hall, Downham, to unveil a new portrait of himself painted by Dreamers' drummer Alun Edmundson. Mr St John-Foti said even though the visit happened only shortly after he had a heart attack as he returned from America, he had lost none of his zest for life or love of entertaining. "When he came last time he put on a clown's hat and played the fool as usual," he said. Mr St John-Foti said Freddie's room at the Downham attraction was visited by around 30,000 visitors each year and hoped the vast collection of memorabilia, including a life-sized picture of Freddie jumping in the air, would help keep his memory alive for fans. Mr St John-Foti said the funeral had provisionally been set for next Friday and he hoped they would be able to say a few prayers in Freddie's memory in the Downham room on the same day. karen.patient@lynnnews.co.uk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
elef Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 What's the thai connection? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flashermac Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 Freddie loved sanuk! He was a fun fellow who never took himself seriously, unlike too many stuffed shirt pop stars. I liked Freddie and he brought smiles to many people's faces. That makes him relevant to the LOS. Bye Freddie. Rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sayjann Posted June 4, 2006 Report Share Posted June 4, 2006 'Freddie Garrity was famed for his energetic dance moves' he always reminded me of a camel on crack........... being 27 Years old i do not remember him in his heyday but have seen the footage of him and heard the songs. he always seemed a jolly Guy and if he had great fun in his life then i hope he enjoyed it........... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BuffHello Posted June 5, 2006 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2006 Freddie really broke the mould when he appeared in the 60s ,you cant appreciate nowadays how much he astonished people back then with his remarkable act ,which nowadays would be tame when compared with later bands and performers. He is up there with the all time greats of modern music . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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