In Great Bridge, there was only one Fred Perry- and not the former more internationally known Tennis player. As a former Sandwell Councillor for The Great Bridge ward, Fred was also a founder member of The Friends of Sheepwash Local Nature Reserve and Sandwell Swanwatch.
Along with Malcolm Beckley, he also started the CATCH radio scheme in the town (community action tackling crime and harassment). The radio scheme alerted police to potential crimes being committed in the town, though sometimes went well beyond these boundaries- as did the man whose call sign was 01 !
I remember a slightly built but deeply committed man- especially to Sheepwash Nature Reserve and the Haines Branch Walkway- which Fred had a great deal in shaping, or trying to. I remember standing with him CATCH radios in hand in the dark well after 11 0 clock at night on Sheepwash waiting for the police to arrive to deal with some yobs breaking down trees. I remember a man who put on a pair of waders around the age of 78 to help me catch a wounded swan on Sheepwash. I recall a man who would usually be the first to raise the alarm when he spotted a fire on the site from his multi storey tower block flat. But what else would you expect from a man who had served with The forgotten army during WW2, who raised thousands of pounds for The Royal British Legion and could be found every year doing the same thing always giving of his time?
He was an admired figure by young and old, and a cult figure in the area where he knew almost everyone, and most knew him.
Despite being deselected by his local Labour party branch, Fred remained for many years the face in the street that people would go to with their problems. He never turned anyone away, and it is a miracle that he and his wife Irene ever managed to get their shopping done in the local Kwiksave.
In truth he never really got over being deselected and felt betrayed by those he had considered “friends”. In a world dominated by the false, Fred remained his uncompromising self- an old school socialist who would give his views instead of playing it safe and saying little. He was a union man, and not one from EQUITY.
In the dozens of meetings that I attended with him, including some of the ones he came to at Trinity Street at Rhodia, he never once fell asleep, or chainsmoked his way through the preliminaries or afterphase, and he certainly never doubted his good friends or cash their dodgy cheques.
His family can be proud that he “retired” with dignity, was rightfully honoured with an MBE he deserved and has left a lasting memory where he will not be forgotten.
Fred acted as the link between the dogma of a council that belatedly honoured him with the title “Alderman” and the people of the community he served so well.
HE WAS THE GREAT BRIDGE.