Fred Skinner ....recollections

steeljack · 08-07-2007, 07:33

a local guy ( raised on Providence St. in Little Harwood alongside the Walker brothers [Blackburn Rovers fame],) who owned /operated a few entertainment spots , primaily in Clayton during the 60s/70s , just curious if anyone has any recollections/memories/coments about him ?

the guy is long dead, so libel/slander consideraions no longer apply

Mancie · 08-07-2007, 07:59

I remember him..he used to sort of trawl the local pubs .. I presume on he's days off.. people always seemed to expect him to buy the next round of drinks.. and the next... I don't think he was a popular bloke

katex · 08-07-2007, 09:08

I remember Fred quite well, no he wasn't all that popular, however, don't think he ever did anyone any harm at all. Turned places into bingo halls and night clubs. Think the Vic at Clayton may have been his last venture.

My ex and I were invited on a few occasions for late night supper at his house on The Esplanade in Rishton and he was always extremely generous, cooking us steaks instead of boiled ham sandwiches. Impressed me lots.

Don't know much about his business dealings to comment why he may have been unpopular ... think he really wanted to be liked and I did.

He was homosexual by the way, and acceptance and understanding only just firing in on this, so maybe that didn't help either.

Royboy39 · 08-07-2007, 09:25

I remember Fred Skinner from the early 50s. He ran a boys club in the rooms above the now defunct Coop bakery and warehouse at the junction of Wall St and Belper St, next to Belper St Baths in the Cob Wall area of Blackburn.
My uncle Jim Haworth now sadly no longer with us was manager of the Bakery at the time.
I had an auntie who had a small hairdressers shop directly opposite the Coop building. We used to call her auntie Janey but when she got the shop we had to call her auntie Jean. I could never remember the new name and got into trouble many times.
The next time I heard of Fred Skinner he had opened a boys club somewhere in Clayton.
Last I remember him at the Martholme Grange.

MargaretR · 08-07-2007, 09:48

He owned 3 bingo halls at Accrington Nelson and Rochdale. The Accy and Nelson ones are still operating with the management staff he put in. The Rochdale one closed very recently.
I go to the Accy club. Until a few years ago he used to make occasional visits and stroll up and down the aisles (like a queen inspecting troops)

Royboy39 · 08-07-2007, 09:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by [email protected]

He owned 3 bingo halls at Accrington Nelson and Rochdale. The Accy and Nelson ones are still operating with the management staff he put in. The Rochdale one closed very recently.
I go to the Accy club. Until a few years ago he used to make occasional visits and stroll up and down the aisles (like a queen inspecting troops)

He was so I'm led to believe?

cashman · 08-07-2007, 13:02

was he not related to Johnathon King.

mallard · 08-07-2007, 13:13

By the sound of him he was very well like,t gent but its like he will be sadly mist and our memories will be with him

cashman · 08-07-2007, 13:20

you obviously didn't know the man mallard.

mez · 08-07-2007, 17:54

yea i remember fred , he wasn't a bad type of guy just a rogue, fingers in lots of pies so to speak, yes marthholme was his last venture, had some good nights up there too.

cashman · 08-07-2007, 19:29

Quote:

Originally Posted by mez

yea i remember fred , he wasn't a bad type of guy just a rogue, fingers in lots of pies so to speak, yes marthholme was his last venture, had some good nights up there too.

differance between remembering someone and knowing them mez.

brfc1974 · 08-07-2007, 22:00

Quote:

Originally Posted by mallard

By the sound of him he was very well like,t gent but its like he will be sadly mist and our memories will be with him

liked, missed

cashman · 09-07-2007, 23:14

Quote:

Originally Posted by steeljack

a local guy ( raised on Providence St. in Little Harwood alongside the Walker brothers [Blackburn Rovers fame],) who owned /operated a few entertainment spots , primaily in Clayton during the 60s/70s , just curious if anyone has any recollections/memories/coments about him ?

the guy is long dead, so libel/slander consideraions no longer apply

been pondering this a couple of days now,and have come to the conclusion yer FISHING steeljack.

alan7554 · 10-07-2007, 03:49

as someone who worked for fred,i would just like to say, yes he was a bit of a rogue,had a temper on him but always treated you right.ok he was as bent as a 9 bob note and did wear some awful wigs,but he did a lot of work for charity and ran a good bingo hall at the top of oxford street,he was a character in his own right and i for one am glad that i knew him

tosh · 10-07-2007, 22:58

sorry to tell you that fred as past away.