Frederick "Fred" Gee was potman at the Rovers Return Inn from 1976 to 1984, under landlady Annie Walker.
Fred's first wife Edna worked at the Mark Brittain Warehouse from 1971. When Edna died in a fire at the Warehouse, Fred became known to her friends in Coronation Street and in 1976 he was recommended to Annie when she was looking for a live-in cellarman at the Rovers. Petty, ignorant and coarse, Fred liked to think he was in charge of the pub, but Annie easily dominated him, and barmaids Bet Lynch ridiculed him and Betty Turpin did nothing to hide her contempt for him.
In 1981, Fred married Eunice Nuttall and they tried to get a pub of their own but they were refused by Newton & Ridley, and became caretakers at the Community Centre instead. After less than a year of marriage, they drifted apart and separated. Fred returned to the Rovers and became temporary manager after Annie's retirement, although when Billy Walker became licensee he and Fred didn't get on and Billy fired Fred, who soon left the area.
In 1999, Eunice returned for a brief time and announced that Fred had died of a heart attack previously.
Biography
1929-1975
Frederick Gee was born on 6th October 1929. He later met and married Edna. Shortly before her death he became known to her friends in Coronation Street. Edna died in a fire at the Mark Brittain Warehouse in 1975.
1976-1984
In 1976, now known to his late wife's friends, Fred was recommended to Annie Walker when she was looking for a live in cellarman at the Rovers. Fred had recently been made redundant from his job as a storeman at Fosters foundry. Fred then moved into the Rovers. He always used to think that he was in charge of the pub and was often bolshy, petty and coarse. He had a brief fling with Vera Duckworth shortly after moving into the pub.
Annie dominated Fred even though he thought he was in charge of the pub. In 1981 he met Eunice Nuttall at a singles evening and later married on the 13th May. Their marriage was far from happy and in 1983 she wanted to marry again and sought a divorce from Fred. Fred became temporary manager of the Rovers when Annie retired and when Billy Walker became the licensee him and Fred did not get on. He wanted to get rid of Fred but did not want to pay compensation so he goaded Fred into punching him. And furious Fred's farewell from the pub was to do just that. Fred then got a job working for Mike Baldwin. Fred worked delivering stock for Mike and got involved in a shirt selling scam with Jack Duckworth in which he reluctantly posed as Mike to a salesman while Mike was away on business.
Fred last appeared at Stan Ogden's funeral on 28th November 1984. Mike Baldwin found out about his dodgy shirt-selling scam and told him to come to the factory tomorrow and pick up his cards. He was never seen or heard from in Weatherfield again.
In early 1999 Eunice returned to the street briefly and announced that Fred had died a few months previously.
Other information
- Fred bought himself a wig, but didn't wear it any longer after being made a laughing stock in the pub.
Background information
- Fred Feast also appeared as another barman called Fred in two episodes in January and March 1972. No indication was given in either episode that it was the same character as Fred Gee, even when he appeared in scenes in Episode 1145 (5th January 1972) alongside Edna Gee when she was customer at The Red Lion where Fred was working.
First and last lines
"Pleased to meet you." (First line, to Ken Barlow)
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"Well I..." (Final line, to Mike Baldwin)