In Recognition of Freddie Frinton

Last year we created a Facebook page to celebrate the career of local comedian, music hall artist, television and film actor Freddie Frinton and now we are building on this with our new Freddie Frinton page on this website. 

Freddie has been largely forgotten in the country of his birth, but nearly half a century after his death, he is a household name in many countries, particularly Germany, because of the 11 minute sketch, "Dinner for One", which he and actress May Warden filmed for German TV in 1963. The sketch has become a staple of New Year's celebrations and has inspired themed dinner parties, drinking games and tribute shows.

Friends of Cleethorpes Heritage first began making efforts to raise Freddie Frinton's profile both locally and nationally last year when discussions got underway with other local organisations about putting up a blue plaque to give Freddie the recognition he deserves as one of Lincolnshire and indeed Britain's most successful and enduring exports to Europe.It was clear from the first meeting that Freddie's profile needed raising, as one notable in the room initially thought we were talking about the man who had a motorcycle dealership in Victoria Street. (By coincidence, the other Freddie was born in the same year as ours and as Rod Collins' article shows, he also had an illustrious career that deserves recognition).

Negotiations are still ongoing with regards to putting up a physical plaque and it is fitting that an Anglo-German funding collaboration is now on the cards. Where the plaque should go is not clear cut, as the current residents of the Granville Street house where he was born or the Barcroft Street residence where he lived as a child would probably not be impressed if people started turning up and asking for a guided tour! Perhaps the most appropriate place would be on Cleethorpes beach where his career first took off with Jimmy Slater's Super Follies, although it would need to be set on high to avoid tidal erosion.

The truth is it doesn't matter where the plaque goes, because it is Freddie Frinton that is important and not a building where he happened to live or perform. What matters is that he is remembered and that people know who he was and what he achieved in a life that was sadly cut short before "Dinner for One" really took off in Germany in 1972 and made a huge star of him anywhere but here. 

So, until such time as the real McCoy is screwed onto a wall somewhere in North East Lincolnshire, Friends of Cleethorpes Heritage are delighted to make Freddie Frinton the first recipient of our new virtual blue plaque scheme. 

Click here to view our new Freddie Frinton web page. You can also access links to videos on YouTube and our photo gallery (thank you to Freddie's son, James Coo, who provided many of the pictures) via the Site Index bar.

Friends of Cleethorpes Heritage would welcome other nominations of local figures who you think are deserving of a virtual blue plaque, so please email us with your suggestions to friendsofcleethorpesheritage@gmail.com or send us a message via our Facebook page