The Freemen

The Freemen were firstly called, The Casuals. They later changed the name to the Freemen. TRIBUTES have been paid to the last surviving member of a popular Portsmouth band who has died, aged 77. Stuart Mugridge was a member of The Freemen, formed in 1959 when Mr Mugridge was an apprentice engineer at Portsmouth Dockyard along with his brother Brian and their friend Alf Grainger. The trio were encouraged by George Turner, manager of the Savoy Ballroom in Southsea, and they turned fully professional in order to feature in a radio series. Their success led them to working in The Latin Quarter, a nightclub in West London, and from there ,they performed as part of cabaret in Spain, France and Germany. It saw them performing in theatres, clubs, on television and led to them releasing several records. They also worked alongside the likes of Shirley Bassey, Matt Munro and Ronnie Hilton, and even performed in the Royal Variety show in front of Princess Margaret. Mr Mugridge's daughter Daniella Jordan said: `My dad met my mum in 1963 at the Kings Theatre when he was doing a summer season there. `Later, he was offered two weeks' work up in Scotland which then turned into five years. By the time the group broke up in 1969, they were having to book in time to take holidays, which was just unheard of in showbusiness, as most groups would have some downtime.' After the group disbanded, Mr Mugridge returned to Portsmouth, living in the North End and Cosham areas, and went back to his original profession of engineering, though music was always a big part of his life. He performed at the Co-op Club in Portsmouth, would make musical arrangements with his friend Neil Worley, and would perform alongside his four daughters and Mr Worley at the Music Lovers Club. Daniella added: `Dad will be very much missed. He used to keep the four of us girls, and more recently our own children, highly entertained with his stories of "the business". Mr Mugridge is survived by his wife Penny, 65, and daughters Daniella, 46; Gabrielle, 43; Jane, 40; Ruth, 36. His funeral will be held at Worthing Crematorium at 1pm on Friday.  Stuart Mugridge: born ,June 7, 1933; died October 6, 2010. The Freemen From Ron Brown's Nostalgia Column. Freemen recorded for Parlophone Concerning the 1950s youth club at Buckland church in Portsmouth, I mentioned a singing group who originated there. They were called the Vocaltones but later turned professional as the Four Freemen. Former youth club members Ken and Diane Lodge have fond memories of the group, whom they knew as Stuart, Brian, Alfie and Lionel. The lads would often call at Diane's house in St Stephen's Road for a session with the piano, and she still recalls the floorboards rocking to the music. Ken got to know them when they played on a Saturday evening at the old Co-op club in an old church in Gamble Road where he first met Diane. He loved their arrangements of Granada and Don't Laugh At Me. The Vocaltones later changed their name to the Casuals, and Ken and Diane went to see them at the Kings Theatre when they were backing group for Joan Regan. Whatever name they used, they were very successful, and Ken and Diane regret never purchasing any of their records. The Freemen actually recorded for Parlophone - any copies out there? Casuals, Vocaltones Then the Freemen One last episode (for the moment anyway) in our memories of the Freemen singing group from Buckland youth club in the 1950s. Excellent information comes from Joan White of Copnor - sister of Alf Grainger, one of the founder-members. She says the career of the Freemen took off in 1959 in south coast ballrooms when they were known as the Casuals. This changed to the Vocaltones, of whom there were five, until one dropped out and they became the Four Freemen. Then they became a trio known simply as the Freemen. They were originally dockyard apprentices, but their singing careers were encouraged by the manager of the Savoy Ballroom, George Turner, who introduced them to bandleader Cyril Stapleton. They turned professional for a radio series, then spent 20 months at the Latin Quarter nightclub in London. After cabaret tours of Spain, France and Germany, the Freemen trio gained an enthusiastic following in Scotland and performed several seasons at the Metropole Theatre, Glasgow. The trio comprised brothers Stuart and Brian Mugridge of Chasewater Avenue, and Joan's brother, Alf, who died in 1985 aged 50. Vocaltones changed to `Those Casuals' T he story of the Vocaltones who became the Freemen is taken up by the sole surviving member of the original group and by the sister of one of them. Chris Harvey of Farlington says the Vocaltones were formed in 1952 and were all members of Buckland Congregational Youth Club. The others were Lionel Haines, Brian Mugridge and Alf Grainger. As the first to finish National Service, Chris joined a rock 'n' roll group, the Live Five. When the Vocaltones re-formed, changed their name to Those Casuals and pursued a professional career, he decided that was not for him. Brian's brother, Stuart, joined Those Casuals in Chris's place and they eventually changed their name to the Freemen. He confirms that Alf and Lionel died in 1985 and Brian in 1993, but Doreen Biscoe(nee Mugridge) has written from Northumberland to say that her brother, Stuart, is still alive - as, in fact, we have previously established. Her parents, Herbert and Nora, were Salvationists and he was organist at London Road Baptist Church for 25 years. Chris married one of the Liddell Sisters, later successful professionally as the Honeys. Mugridge boys were Freemen members 0ur old Nostalgia friend William Pratt, of Fratton in Portsmouth, is another reader who remembers the Freemen singing group of the 1950s. He says two of the four members of the group. which originated from the Buckland church youth club, were brothers named Mugridge. One of them was called Stuart, whom William knew well when he was an apprentice at the Admiralty Signal and Radar Establishment on Portsdown Hill throughout the 1950s. The brothers lived in one of the roads off Hayling Avenue, Copnor, and evidently came from a musical family - their parents being prominent singers in the Salvation Army. William recalls that Stuart had a very good voice and often sang unaccompanied on social occasions, but he died when quite young. That - and the deaths of other Freemen members Brian, Alfie and Lionel - is confirmed by Ken and Diane Lodge, whose memories were recorded here yesterday. Finally William `Freeman Stuart' is ~ alive and kicking! Good news from the western front: Stuart Mugridge, formerly of the Freemen singing group, is alive and well and living. at Ilminster in Somerset. So Stuart might declare, as Mark Twain is usually quoted as having said, that `Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated.' Actually Twain said `The report of my death was an exaggeration' but in the circumstances this column is hardly in a position to throw stones! Both Valerie Kirk and William Pratt have verified they are in contact with Stuart, and William says he hopes to provide more information in due course. He admitted, , that, like other readers, he thought Stuart had died but adds: `We had a good laugh about it on the phone.' Another query arises from the correspondence about the Freemen - who included Stuart and his brother, Brian. Maureen Skinner of Portchester wonders whether they were sons of the Mr Mugridge of Chasewater Avenue, Copnor, with whom she had piano lessons in the late 1940s. He played the organ at a church in North End. I understand he was indeed father of Stuart and Brian. The Freemen 31st May 1968 Known radio broadcasts by The freemen Light Programme Monday 28 August 1961 12.31 MIDDAY MUSIC-HALL from London Bill Gates Introduces Ronnie Hilton Jean Bayiless Harry Locke Bill MoGuffie Gerry Gibson The Freemen BBC Revue Orchestra Leader, Julien Gaillard Conducted by Malcolm Lockyer Jean Bayless is in ' The Sound of Music ' at the Palace Theatre, London; Gerry Gibson in Dazzle' at the Pier Pavilion, Cromer; The Freemen are appearing at the ' Latin Quarter,' London Light Programme Tuesday 27 June 1961 12.31 WORKERS' PLAYTIME from a building material manufacturers at Higham, Kent Introduced by Bill Gates with Anne Shelton , Tony Fayne Martin Lukins and David The Freemen James Moody (piano) Dennis Newey (guitar) Tim Bell (double-bass) The Freemen are appearing at The Latin Quarter, London Light Programme Monday 31 July 1961 12.31 MIDDAY MUSIC-HALL from London Bill Gates introduces Max Miller , Denis Goodwin Julia Shelley , Bernard Spear The Isolde Trio, Harold Berens The Freemen BBC Variety Orchestra Leader. John Jezard Conductor. Paul Fenoulhet Light Programme Sunday 19 August 1962 18.30 BLACKPOOL NIGHT Jack Watson invites you to meet KEN DODD PETER GOODWRIGHT BARBARA LAW, Bill PERTWEE THE FREEMEN, KEN FRITH with resident stars EDMUND HOCKRIDGE and REGINALD DIXON BBC NORTHERN DANCE ORCHESTRA Produced by JAMES CASEY Ken Dodd and Barbara Law are In ' The Big Show of 1962 ' at the Opera House: Edmund Hockridge Is in ' Showtime ' at the North Pier: Reginald Dixon Is at the Tower Ballroom: Peter Goodwrlght is In 'Funsapoppin ' at the Orton Theatre. Cleveleys: The Freemen are in ' Let's Go ' at the South Pier. Blackpool: Bill Pertwee is in Variety at the Hippodrome. Bristol Light Programme Monday 12 August 1963 12.31 MUSIC-HALL from London BILL GATES introduces PETER JONES , CAVAN O'CONNOR MARGO HENDERSON GILL AND TERRY, BERNARD SPEAR TOMMY REILLY , THE FREEMEN BBC VARIETY ORCHESTRA Conductor, PAUL FENOULHET The Freemen are in ' The Big Show ' at the King's Theatre. Southsea; Gill and Terry are in ' The Norman Vaughan Show at the Winter Gardens, Margate; Margo Henderson is in The Black and White Minstrel Show at the Victoria Palace; Bernard Spear is in ' How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at the Shaftesbury Theatre, London Light Programme Friday 23 December 1960 12.31 MIDDAY MUSIC-HALL from London The Freemen Gene Crowley Grace O'Connor Max Miller BBC Revue Orchestra Leader. Julien Gaillard Conducted by Malcolm Lockyer Introduced by Bill Gates Light Programme Saturday 20 August 1960 10.00 SATURDAY CLUB The best of today's ' pop ' entertainment featuring Tony Brent Don Lang and his Frantic Five Joan Small The Freemen The Steve Benbow Folk Four Derek Roberts and his Black Stetson Boys The Ken Jones Five New to You Spinning the latest releases Cat's Call Disc stars you've requested Introduced byPat Campbell Produced by Jimmy Grant Light Programme Tuesday 30 August 1960 12.30 WORKERS' PLAYTIME from a steel wool manufacturers at Redhill, Surrey with Tony Fayne , Rosemary Squires Tommy Reilly , The Freemen James Moody (piano) Bert Weedon (guitar) Tim Bell (double-bass) Introduced by Bill Gates Light Programme Tuesday 15 November 1960 12.31 WORKERS' PLAYTIME from a soft drinks factory fn North West London with Pearl Carr and Teddy Johnson Terry Scott Gwenda Wilkin The Freemen James Moody (piano) Bert Weedon (guitar) Tim Bell (double-bass) Introduced by Bill Gates Light Programme Friday 23 September 1960 12.30 MIDDAY MUSIC-HALL BBC Revue Orchestra (Leader, Julien Gaillard ) Conducted by Malcolm Lockyer The Freemen Peter Butterworth Cherry Lind Cyril Fletcher Introduced by Bill Gates Light Programme Tuesday 26 July 1960 12.30 News Summary WORKERS' PLAYTIME from a potato crisps factory at Brentford, Middlesex With Dennis Lotis , Nicholas Parsons The Freemen, Jack Emblow James Moody (piano) Bert Weedon (guitar) Tim Bell (double-bass) Introduced by Bill Gates Light Programme Tuesday 9 May 1961 12.31 WORKERS' PLAYTIME from a biscuit factory at Harlow, Essex Introduced by Bill Gates with Ronnie Hilton , Terry Scott Gwenda Wilkin , The Freemen James Moody (piano) Judd Proctor (guitar) Tim Bell (double-bass) Light Programme Monday 3 April 1961 13.00 MIDDAY MUSIC-HALL from London Bill Gates introduces Frankie Howerd Dorita y Pepe Julie Dawn Tom Mennard The Freemen Rosemary Brett Davies and Marie Cooper BBC Revue Orchestra Leader, Julien Gaillard Conducted by Malcolm Lockyer Light Programme Tuesday 5 September 1961 12.31 WORKERS' PLAYTIME from a photographic goods factory at Wealdstone, Middlesex Introduced by Bill Gates with Patricia Lambert Nicholas Parsons Betty Smith The Freemen James Moody (piano) Judd Proctor (guitar) Tim Bell (double-bass) Light Programme Saturday 7 January 1961 10.00 SATURDAY CLUB The best of today's ' pop ' entertainment, featuring Al Haxon Duffy Power Julie Rayne Johnny Duncan and his Blue Grass Boys The Freemen Arthur (ireenslade and the Gee Men The Red Price Quintet New to You Spinning the latest releases Cat's Call Disc stars you've requested Introduced by Brian Matthew Produced by Jimmy Grant Light Programme Monday 11 December 1961 12.31 MIDDAY MUSIC-HALL From London Bill Gates introduces Leslie Randall and Joan Reynolds Inia Te Wiata Cardew Robinson Julie Dawn Gerry Gibson June Birch The Freemen BBC Variety Orchestra Leader. John Jezard Conductor. Paul Fenoulhet. Light Programme Tuesday 14 February 1961 12.31 WORKERS' PLAYTIME From a soap works at Isleworth, Middlesex with Cyril Fletcher Matt Monro Joan Winters and Guy Fielding The Freemen James Moody (piano) Billy Bell (guitar) Tim Bell (double-bass) Introduced by Bill Gates Light Programme Monday 5 June 1961 12.31 MIDDAY MUSIC-HALL from London Bill Gates introduces Elsie and Doris Waters Patricia Lambert , Cy Grant Tollefsen, Michael Howard George Meaton , The Freemen Rosemary Brett Davies and Marie Cooper BBC Revue Orchesta Leader. Julien Gaillard Conductor, Malcolm Lockyer Light Programme Monday 1 October 1962 12.31 MUSIC-HALL from the North of England EDMUND HOCKRIDGE with Jimmy Bailey at the piano JACK STOREY MALCOLM MITCHELL AND HIS TRIO PAMELA PETERS LESLIE ADAMS ROBIN HALL and JIMMIE MACGREGOR JIMMY CONWAY THE FREEMEN BBC NORTHERN DANCE ORCHESTRA Directed by BERNARD HERRMANN Introduced by ROGER MOFFAT † Produced by PETER PILBEAM Edmund Hockridge is in 'Showtime' at the North Pier Pavilion. Blackpool Light Programme Tuesday 22 May 1962 12.31 WORKERS' PLAYTIME from a plastics housewares' factory at Highams Park, London Introduced by Bill Gates with David Hughes , Janet Brown Betty Smith , The Freemen James Moody (piano) Judd Proctor (guitar) Tim Bell (double-bass) Light Programme Tuesday 27 March 1962 12.31 WORKERS' PLAYTIME from a car and motor cycle accessory factory at Buckingham Introduced by Bill Gates with Anne Shelton Derek Roy Gwenda Wilkin The Freemen James Moody (piano) Judd Proctor (guitar) Tim Bell (double-bass) Light Programme Monday 11 November 1963 12.31 MUSIC-HALL from London BILL GATES introduces LESLIE RANDALL AND JOAN REYNOLDS STEPHANIE VOSS , DON ARROL THE COUNTRYMEN, PETER HUDSON PAUL TEMPLAR , THE FREEMEN BBC REVUE ORCHESTRA Conducted by MALCOLM LOCKYER Light Programme Tuesday 9 July 1963 12.31 WORKERS' PLAYTIME from a steel wool manufacturers at Redhill, Surrey Introduced by BILL GATES with JILL DAY CARDEW ROBINSON GWENDA WILKIN - THE FREEMEN James Moody (piano) Judd Proctor (guitar) Tim Bell (bass) Light Programme Monday 15 February 1965 13.00 STARTIME from Scotland Ian Wallace introduces LARRY MARSHALL MOIRA ANDERSON JANET BROWN THE FREEMEN JIM MACLEOD AND HIS BAND THE ARTHUR BLAKE SINGERS BBC SCOTTISH VARIETY ORCHESTRA Leader, Dennis McConnell Conductor, JACK LEON Produced by EDDIE FRASER Light Programme Monday 23 January 1967 15.00 SWINGALONG David HAMILTON introduces a daily delivery of popular music with studio guests BRIAN POOLE AND THE TREMELOES THE ROBB STORME GROUP THE STEVE EVANS QUARTET with ANGELA CHRISTIAN The FREEMEN THE GEORGE FIERSTONE BAND THE JOHNNY PATRICK BIG BAND Including some instrumental music from the Swingalong Tune Shop and a round of records Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN Light Programme Monday 6 February 1967 15.00 SWINGALONG DENNY PIERCY introduces a daily delivery of popular music with studio guests DAVE BERRY AND THE CRUISERS BRIAN POOLE AND THE TREMELOES THE FREEMEN THE TED TAYLOR FOUR with EVE DELROY THE MIKE SMITH BAND THE GEORGE FIERSTONE BAND including some instrumental music from the Swingalong Tune Shop and a round of records Produced by JEFF GRIFFIN BBC Radio 2 Thursday 16 November 1967 13.00 HEATHER MIXTURE with Jimmy Shand A miscellany of music from Scotland with THE FREEMEN ALASTAIR McDONALD and JIMMY SHAND AND his BAND Introduced by DAVID FINDLAY Produced by Ben Lyons Light Programme Thursday 9 February 1967 15.00 SWINGALONG DENNY PIERCY introduces a daily delivery of popular music with studio guests DAVE BERRY AND THE CRUISERS BRIAN POOLE AND THE TREMELOES THE FREEMEN THE TED TAYLOR FOUR with EVE DELROY THE MIKE SMITH BAND THE GEORGE FIERSTONE BAND includinK some instrumental music from the Swingalong Tune Shop and a round of records Produced by Jeff Griffin Light Programme Thursday 26 January 1967 15.00 SWINGALONG DAVID HAMILTON introduces a daily delivery of popular music with studio guests BRIAN POOLE AND THE TREMELOES THE ROBB STORME GROUP The STEVE EVANS QUARTET with ANGELA CHRISTIAN THE FREEMEN THE GEORGE FIERSTONE BAND THE JOHNNY PATRICK BIG BAND including some instrumental music from the Swingalong Tune Shop and a round of records Produced, by Jeff Griffin BBC Radio 2 Thursday 26 October 1967 13.00 HEATHER MIXTURE with Jimmy Shand A miscellany of music from Scotland with The FREEMEN ALASTAIR McDONALD and JIMMY SHAND and his BAND Introduced by DAVID FINDLAY Produced by Ben Lyons BBC One London Tuesday 9 September 1969 20.00 Tuesday at Eight The Good Old Days Old-Time Music-Hall from the stage of the Famous City Varieties Theatre, Leeds (by arrangement with Stanley and Michael Joseph ) presenting Hylda Baker , Eira Heath Frank Carson , Des Lane The Freemen, Brahma Isabella Bruan Chairman Leonard Sachs Musical Director BERNARD HERRMANN Produced by BARNEY COLEHAN

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