Alan Freeman

Alan Leslie Freeman MBE 6 July 1927 27 November 2006 nicknamed Fluff was an Australianborn British disc jockey and radio personality in the United Kingdom for 40 years best known for presenting Pick of the Pops from 1961 to 2000 Born and educated in Melbourne Australia Freeman worked as an assistant paymasteraccountant for one of Australias largest timber companies after leaving school He wanted to be an opera singer but decided his voice was not strong enough Freeman was invited to audition as a radio announcer in 1952 and began work for 7LA in Tasmania known as the teenagers station Freemans duties included continuity announcer presenter of musical programmes incorporating opera ballet and classical music DJ for the top 100 news reader quizmaster and commercials reader After moving to radio station 3KZ in Melbourne he took a ninemonth trip around the world in 1957 with the promise to return to Melbourne by January 1958 He arrived in London and on deciding to stay wrote numerous letters of delay and later apology to his former employer Freeman began his British career as a summer relief disc jockey on Radio Luxembourg and continued to present late evening programmes on the station until the early 1970s In 1960 he moved to the BBC Light Programme as presenter of the Records Around Five show introduced by his signature tune At the Sign of the Swingin Cymbal written by Brian Fahey A more upbeat version performed by Brass Incorporated was introduced in April 1970 In September 1961 he introduced Pick of the Pops as part of Saturday evening show Trad Tavern Pick of the Pops became a permanent show in its own right Freeman presented it until 24 September 1972 continuing with his Swingin Cymbal signature tune Freeman acted in the horror film Dr Terrors House of Horrors 1965 and the rock musical Absolute Beginners 1986 and played himself or a similar character in films such as Its Trad Dad 1962 Just for Fun 1963 and Sebastian 1968 He also played God albeit a God who sat at a mixing desk and said Alright in two episodes of The Young Ones in 1984 Freeman also appeared in TV advertisements for Brentford Nylons and for Omo with exclusive WM7 for perfect whiteness He appeared in Noël Cowards Private Lives at the Adeline Genee Theatre in East Grinstead in June 1968 starring alongside Shirley Anne Field Sally Anne Howe and Conrad Phillips He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE in 1998 In May 2000 he was presented with a Lifetime Achievement award at the Sony Radio Academy Awards He was initiated into the Grand Order of Water Rats in 1976 and ten years later was elected King Rat He also served as VicePresident of the London Union of Youth Clubs He died on 27 November 2006 in Brinsworth House aged 79 after a short illness