Frederick HOWCHIN (Fred. E. Cliffe) (Fred)

also known as Fred E CLIFFE

11th Apr 18851,2 - 22nd Sep 19576

song writer in partnership with Harry Gifford1

Life History

11th Apr 1885	Born in Liverpool (44 Prescot Street).1,2 1 Dec 1885 according to Brendan Ryan in The Call Boy 1987
about 1907	Occupation lightning sketch artist.1
7th Nov 1908	Married Amy Eliza PRATT in Wandsworth, Surrey Marriage by licence - witnesses were EW Pratt and S Howchin
7th Nov 1908	Occupation Music Hall artist.3
7th Nov 1908	Resident in 8 Defoe Road, Tooting, Wandsworth, London
1909	Birth of daughter Vera CLIFFE in Liverpool, Lancashire
21st Feb 1910	Birth of daughter Eleanor Cosmo HOWCHIN in Battersea, Surrey
21st Feb 1910	Occupation song writer in Battersea, London
21st Feb 1910	Resident in 21 Theatre Street, Battersea
2nd Apr 1911	Recorded in census in 14 Pricess St, Southwark, London.4
from 1932	Occupation song writer in partnership with Harry Gifford in Streatham, London (10 Branchester Road, Streatham, London).1
from 1936 to 1957	Resident in New Timber, 33 Pink Lane, Burnham, Essex.5
25th Jan 1939	Death of Amy Eliza PRATT in Fairmile House, Christchurch.6
8th Aug 1949	New Timber, Pink Lane, Burnham The witnesses were Laura G. Bland and Constance Maud Bland. (Two of Mabel's older sisters.)
8th Aug 1949	Married Mabel BLAND in Register Office, Eton, Buckinghamshire.3 The witnesses were Laura G. Bland and Constance Maud Bland. (Two of Mabel's older sisters.)
between Apr 1954 and Jun 1954	Death of Mabel BLAND in Eton district
11th Aug 1955	33 Pink Lane, Burnham The witnesses were A. E. Fairhall and H. Haydock
11th Aug 1955	Married Mary Jane MULLIN in Register Office, Eton, Buckinghamshire.3 The witnesses were A. E. Fairhall and H. Haydock
after 1957	Death of Mary Jane MULLIN
25th Aug 1957	Wrote will in 33 Pink Lane, Burnham Executors: Frederick Albert Cliffe, 4 Valentine Grove, Aintree, Lancs Frank Cheesman, 6 Clements St, London Witnesses: George Albert Haydock and Maud Haydock, 26 Falmouth House, East Hill, Wandsworth SW18 Everything left to his wife, Mary Jane Howchin Cliffe The will is signed 'Frederick Howchin Cliffe' 'known as Fred Cliffe'
22nd Sep 1957	Died in Canadian Red Cross Memorial Hospital, Taplow, Essex.6 Myocardial Infarction and Coronary Thrombosis
21st Nov 1957	Probate in Principal Registry, London Gross £1957-7-3 net £1908-14-0 Granted to Frederick Albert Cliffe (motor driver) and Francis Phillips Cheesman (solicitor)

Notes

When Fred died Beryl Formby, wife of George Formby, wrote to Fred's son:

"It was with deep regret that we heard about your father. Both George and I are more than sorry for there is no doubt that your father was a clever man nad he will be missed by many. I know that George and I will miss him very much."1

Sources

1. The Call Boy 1987
- Ryan Brendan. 1987. "Songsmiths to George Formby: Harry Gifford and Fred E. Cliffe." The Call Boy 24 (2): 13.
2. Birth Certificate
3. Marriage Certificate
4. UK Census 1911
- www.1911census.co.uk
5. Ancestry - British telephone directories
6. Death certificate