Yesterday I attended the memorial service for Fred Metcalf.
Fred was a gag-writer and for many years the speechwriter for David Frost. The service took place at the Actors’ Church in Covent Garden. Afterwards there was an ‘open-mic’ and guests were invited to say a few words about him. Because the tributes were all from family and friends, (and Fred’s public life had been dealt with in the service), I decided not to deliver the speech. But I wanted to post it here:
I first came across Fred in a book.
It was Bob Monkhouse’s Complete Speaker’s Handbook.