Fred Mortimer   Conductor

Born 22nd Nov 1880    Died 20th June 1953

Fred was born at Hebden Bridge, Yorkshire. He learnt to play the cornet at home along with his father who at the time was playing the Baritone with the Wyke Temperance band. Fred would listen not only to his father’s band but also the Black Dyke Mills band and paid particular attention to conductor, John Gladney.

Aged 17 Fred started conducting the Hebden Bridge Band leaning the trade from William Rimmer. At the age of 21 Fred became bandmaster of the band.

In 1911 he decided to take a job with the Luton Red Cross Band taking his family with him. In 1923 the Luton Red Cross won the National Championship with the tune “Oliver Cromwell” after which the Mortimer’s named their house.

In 1924 Fred’s son Alex made the move to Sandbach and the Foden Motor Works Band with his father and the rest of the family following on some months later.

After his appointment in December 1924 with Fodens, Fred made his debut with the Band at the Victoria Hall, Hanley on the January 11, 1925, along with the Potteries Choral Society. This was followed three weeks later with a concert at Sandbach Town Hall.

Fred became known as the “Wizard of the Baton” and by his two sons he was affectionately given the name “The Wagabond King”. 

Rehearsals with Fodens were overseen by E.R Foden who sat in the background behind a cloud of cigar smoke. In walked Fred Mortimer at the appointed time, having previously arranged with the librarian what they were going to rehearse. He would then walk up to the rostrum and give a peremptory rap on it with his baton and the band would strike up the first note on cue not having spent any time greeting the band members.

If a member of the band played a wrong note the offending player was awarded an ancient putty medal.

The style of the band changed with Fred’s influence moving from the Marching band sound to a more orchestral or symphonic sound which other bands soon started to copy.

The band were playing in a set of concerts at Hyde Park, London as part of the Queen's Coronation celebrations and it was while they were there that the news came through of Fred’s death. Principal Cornet player Teddy (Ted) Gray had to find a replacement conductor for the rest of the days concerts as Harry (Conductor) and his brother (Rex - Bandmaster) returned home to console their mother. The immediate stop gap was Bob Shepley the 3^rd Cornet player in the band.

On this week's wqe have a cornet solo played by Harry Mortimer accompanied by the Foden;s Motor Works Band with Fred conducting in 1936.