28, Overgang...Freddie Fly's old pad..... good times then...were they ever!

When Freddy Fly lived there he offered Fred & Breakfast, for free.

I don't think he had too many offers though

The older he got the more pretty girls he dated. Strange but true.

Mum & Dad lived at Fred’s place, when I was a baby in the 60’s.

I seem to remember a very tiny sweet shop in that area.

Yes, Mr Stone was next door.

During the war there was a Belgian refugee lived there. Apparently, Brixham folks thought he was a spy because he was a "furrener”. Upham’s boatyard was attacked and people thought he was to blame, poor soul.

Pretty sure Fred Fly’s mum used live next door to Stones. She used to wave to you from the upstairs window. That must have been in the 60s.

It’s Fred Fly's house next to Stones shop.

Fred Fly even worked from there doing engraving, dog's name, bracelets etc. He had a bit of help with the machine he used!

Didn’t you work in there selling Sammy the seals?

Yes I worked in this shop when I was about 10 for Freddie Fly. The Sammy seals were the best selllers, we also sold helium balloons engraved dog discs and trips to Guernsey.

You’re correct - right at the bottom of the steps - Fred Goodall  was his correct surname. He also had a small shop there after his parents died.

Should have one of those blue Plaques on the wall, to commemorate that Freddy Fly once lived there.

I remember Fred Fly. He had a step-daughter called Susie.

I remember when I used to look up at Fred Fly’s window and see his Father lying in bed looking out using a mirror.

Fred was a mate of John Aris back in the day. I think that, like John, Fred was a musician.

Fred was John Aris’s manager.  Good times and memories.

John Aris was a brillliant musician. Keyboard, guitar and squeeze box

Never knew Freddy to play any instrument, only to play up at times. He was always good company.

No, he wasn't a musician but I believe his father was a newspaper man of some distinction.

I remember Freddie well, and his mum. Such a long time ago.

Maggie, a lovely lady. Her and Dennis Kimble used to get squiffy in the Crown!

When Bigwoods ran out I had to walk round to the ice factory on Berry Head Road  for a bucket of ice for Margaret Goodall ( Fred Fly’s mother ). Had no fridge, so had a bucket of ice every few days.  Got sixpence for that errand.

Yes I remember Fred. He did a few trips on the Cato when I was there, with Frank Gibbs.

And he was on the Zegen, prior to that. He launched Frank halfway up the mizzen mast.

I don’t remember but he was credited with inventing the term ‘grockles’ which was then picked up and used in a 1960’s film called “The System” 

He used to say Grocks etc. was his and it was plagiarised by the "The System" script writer Peter Draper but they always seemed to get along in the pub.

He got his name from Freddy the fearless fly in the comic, Beano or Dandy, not sure which. He also was the inventor of the word grockles

I heard tell that Maggie never used to like leaving her till in her shop. So when she used to go to The Crown she took it with her, and she put it next to the till at The Crown. And when she wanted a little drink she would open that till and it would go Ping! And the landlord would tell her how much he wanted and then his till would go Ping! And then they would both close up until she wanted another drink.

Only one Freddie Fly. Had some great times with him.... His mum Maggie and Dennis Kimble used to enjoy a drop together in the Crown.

That's a blast from the past, he was a legend mate, used to drink Stella at 5 in the morning with him. Lol! Great Days.

Oh yes Fred Fly , such a character, I heard he never paid rent. Is that true?

The family always paid the rent but it was fixed and they had "security of tenure" as I understood it.

Freddie lived with us for the last year or so of his life. He told us he used to play on the steps with his friend David Dickinson! THE David Dickinson! Apparently David lived with his granny at that time.

Fred used to have many visitors and was obviously much loved, a funny and very brave gentleman.

Dear Old Freddie! He passed away and entrusted his ashes to his old pal, John Quigley, with instructions to put them back in the tiny garden where he once lived. However, the building had changed and become a holiday let. So John figured out the only way was to pop Fred's ashes back through the open window on Changeover Day!