Cirencester musician and artist Frederick Lea, who died on Boxing Day aged 71, was 'exceptionally talented' says former bandmate

Frederick was a guitarist and songwriter for popular Cirencester bands The Corals and Wild Silk in the 1960s and 70s, and later became a successful artist and illustrator.

Specialising in railway paintings, he retired from a 30 year career in the civil service in 1996 to take up his hobby full-time and was quickly accepted into the Guild of Railway Artists, opening up a studio.

Born in Manchester in 1945, Frederick and his family soon moved to Cirencester, where he met fellow grammar school pupil John Burgess, forming a beat band which would eventually become The Corals in the early 1960s.

World-renowned drummer Cozy Powell, who would go on to play in the likes of Black Sabbath, Whitesnake and The Jeff Beck Group, was also a founding member of the band.

In January, Frederick and John, 72, attended a blue plaque unveiling at The Corn Hall for their former bandmate, who died in 1998.

John, now a councillor on Gloucestershire County Council, said he and Frederick had “been lifelong friends” since meeting as children.

“We shared many interests, including music, and when I formed the group which became The Corals, Fred and I had already been developing our guitar and song writing skills together,” he told the Standard.

The group quickly attracted many fans in the town, often playing gigs at The Corn Hall as teenagers.

One show at the Market Place venue broke a world record for playing 11 and a half hours without repeating a song.

After a club residency in Germany and the departure of Cozy, the band reformed as Wild Silk.

“That group later turned professional and our first pro gig was with The Who at Bath Pavilion,” said John.

“Our own recording contract was with Major Minor Records.

“We recorded an album but the project came to nothing when the company was sold to EMI,” he explained.

After the band wound down, Frederick and John “kept in close touch” and because their birthday's were on consecutive days, they kept up an ongoing ritual all these years.

“The going rate for birthdays amongst our old group of friends was half a crown," explained John.

“Fred would present me with 2/6 on my birthday and the following day I would give it back. Something we kept going right up until last July.”

He went on to say: “Fred was also an exceptionally talented artist, a natural ability which allowed him to open his own studio specialising in railway paintings.

“There are some wonderful paintings of the old Cirencester Town and Watermoor stations amongst his works,” he added.

“Fred played a big part in my life and I will miss him dearly,” he said.

A fellow patient on Hazelton Ward at Cheltenham General Hosptial, who did not wish to be named, contacted the Standard to pay tribute.

"Although I didn't know him for a long time, I spent a week laid up in a hospital bed next to him in October," he said.

"Both of us were going through some difficult health issues. So we got each other through a very hard time.

"It was there when he found out how unwell he actually was but I'm sure he didn't expect he would be gone this soon.

"I found him to be the most caring, kind and gentle man.

"I know his passing will be a great loss to many," he added.

Christine Morris, a Cirencester resident, said: “I have vivid memories of happy days at The Corals gigs in the 60s, in particular many Thursday evenings at the church hall youth club on Cricklade Street.

“Fred will be greatly missed by a lot of people.”

Frederick is survived by his wife, Liz and children Steven, Colin and David.

A statement from his family said: "The family are all very proud of dad's creative talents both as a guitarist, and as a well known artist of local scenes and railways.

"We as a family would like to put on record too how wonderful the nurses and staff on Hazleton Ward were, as well as the district nurses and carers who visited Dad at home in the last month.

"May we pass on our grateful thanks to them for looking after dad with such care and compassion."

In Frederick's memory, his son Colin is walking coast to coast across England in June.

Sponsorship to the Foundation for Liver Research is welcomed in Frederick's memory via www.justgiving.com/fredericklea