The Fred connection

“What a place to have a blether!” Fred remarks as he looks round the Speedwell Bar in Dundee where we’ve met for a drink and the aforementioned catch-up. Of course, to those in the know, despite the sign outside reading Speedwell Bar, we’re in the famed Mennies – a Perth Road pub staple. 

“This is one of my favourite places in Dundee because it was where we used to come for a pint, my pals and I, before heading down to the students’ union,” Fred reminisces. “The beer was fantastic, the atmosphere was always genial, and it wasn’t too far for us to walk home if we didn’t make it to the students’ association!” 

From spreadsheets to standup

While most of us will know Fred as a comedian, his initial calling was more spreadsheets than standup. He completed a Bachelor of Accountancy in 1978 and began the process of becoming a chartered accountant, but after failing his part one exams, he soon realised that working with numbers wasn’t for him: “I failed and bailed,” he says with a wry smile. 

Following a brief stint as an assistant accountant at the Cairngorm Chairlift Company – “I’d always been a skier and this seemed like the ideal job” – and then a role at Pitlochry Knitwear – “Which, with a name like that, you can understand would have been based in… East Kilbride” – he began to seek his true calling around the age of 30. 

“When I turned 30, I thought ‘Oh, my goodness, I wanted to do something different and I’ve done nothing about it’,” he reveals. That “something different” soon turned out to be standup comedy. Working as accountant by day and doing standup gigs at night, he built his repertoire and reputation over the next few years. 

“I made the break in 1993,” he says. “I said goodbye to the exciting world of finance for the dull mundane life of standup comedy on the London comedy circuit!”

A role as Rector

Being a student isn’t Fred’s only connection to the University. In 2001 he was elected as Rector. The role of Rector is one traditionally found in the ancient universities in Scotland – which includes Dundee as the University was formerly part of Scotland’s oldest university, the University of St Andrews.  

Elected by students, the role is the highest position of student representation at the University, sitting on University Court and ensuring students’ voices are heard at all levels.  

That the role is elected by students, for students is an important factor that hasn’t been lost on Fred.  

“When I was elected as Rector, the feeling that people had actually voted for me really made me want to do a good job. And it’s something I’ve always reflected on, that MPs and MSPs, and anybody else that is in politics – I hope they never lose that feeling as well, that somebody actually took the trouble to vote for you, so get stuck in on their behalf.” 

Reminiscing about his inaugural rectoral speech he admits he spent a great deal of time finessing it. “As somebody working as a stand-up comedian and used to standing in front of audiences, the address I had to give as Rector was one that I spent more time working on than any stand-up comedy set I’ve ever done. I really took it seriously.” 

The highlight of graduation

“Attending the graduation ceremonies – I loved that,” he says with genuine joy. “It was great to see all the smiling faces and all the people that had done well and then the families around the Caird Hall and then the garden parties afterwards. They were always really good, and whether it’s my memories are fading or not, it was always good weather. It was always sunny for the garden parties!” 

Returning to campus also brings back fond memories for Fred – and it’s the scent as much as the sights that jog his memory. “The smell of DUSA is the same as it was 20 years ago when I came as Rector and 51 years ago when I came here as a student. Whether it’s the air freshener or the cleaning product – or maybe it’s just that beer spilled on a floor smells like beer spilled on a floor regardless of which era it got spilled!” 

As we finish our drinks we can’t help but ask – what’s next for Fred? He reveals that despite taking a sabbatical from comedy earlier this year, he returned to standup at the Glasgow International Comedy Festival and has a whole host of other festivals lined up – plus a tour in the autumn.  

“It’s been a long career, been a happy career, and I’m pleased to say, still going!”