The Mysterious Fred

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  • Simon Wood
    Commissioner
    • Feb 2008
    • 5551

    #1

    The Mysterious Fred

    Hi All,

    Is this the man who sent Donald Sutherland Swanson a copy of Sir Robert Anderson's "The Lighter Side of My Official Life"?

    Click image for larger version

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    Regards,

    Simon
    Last edited by Simon Wood; 07-15-2018, 01:59 PM. Reason: spolling mistook
    Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.
  • Mayerling
    Superintendent
    • Feb 2008
    • 2762

    #2
    Originally posted by Simon Wood View Post
    Hi All,

    Is this the man who sent Donald Sutherland Swanson a copy of Sir Robert Anderson's "The Lighter Side of My Official Life"?

    [ATTACH]18713[/ATTACH]

    Regards,

    Simon
    Why do you suppose this is that man?

    Comment

    • Simon Wood
      Commissioner
      • Feb 2008
      • 5551

      #3
      You sound as though I shouldn't suppose that it was this man.
      Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

      Comment

      • Mayerling
        Superintendent
        • Feb 2008
        • 2762

        #4
        Originally posted by Simon Wood View Post
        You sound as though I shouldn't suppose that it was this man.
        Hi Simon,

        No, I just don't know enough background to wonder why this figure may be the man you say it is. It's a matter of my own ignorance.

        Jeff

        Comment

        • rjpalmer
          Commissioner
          • Mar 2008
          • 4248

          #5
          I am starting to suspect that Simon has a cryptic streak. It was suggested in some quarters that the 'Mysterious Fred' who presented Anderson's book to Swanson might have been none other than Fred Abberline, which would at least imply that Fred and Don were chummy, or that the old Inspector didn't think Anderson's book should be burned outright.

          It was a rather thin line of argument.

          I don't think it's Chopin, Deeming, or Flintstone, and having read Simon's thoughts on the Marginalia, I am even a little surprised that he is posting this under 'Non-Fiction.'

          Comment

          • Simon Wood
            Commissioner
            • Feb 2008
            • 5551

            #6
            Hi Jeff,

            I was hoping by now that somebody might have been sufficiently curious to ask his name, but apparently this is not the case.

            Anyway—

            His name is Colonel Frederick Charles Keyser, CB [1842-1920], a fellow Freemason who lived not a million miles from Swanson.

            In a number of letters to The Times and in other newspaper and masonic references he went by the informal moniker of 'Fred'.

            I don't believe he is listed in Swanson's address book.

            Regards,

            Simon
            Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

            Comment

            • Simon Wood
              Commissioner
              • Feb 2008
              • 5551

              #7
              Hi RJ,

              That you of all people should buy the Swanson Marginalia is alarming. I always thought you were fairly rational.

              Actually, Keyser is a thinly disguised Frederick Delius

              Regards,

              Simon
              Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

              Comment

              • rjpalmer
                Commissioner
                • Mar 2008
                • 4248

                #8
                Rest easy, Simon; I am by no means married to the marginalia.

                Comment

                • Simon Wood
                  Commissioner
                  • Feb 2008
                  • 5551

                  #9
                  Phew! That's a relief. You had me worried for a moment.
                  Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

                  Comment

                  • Sam Flynn
                    Casebook Supporter
                    • Feb 2008
                    • 13322

                    #10
                    Originally posted by Simon Wood View Post
                    Actually, Keyser is a thinly disguised Frederick Delius
                    He doesn't look like Delius, Simon. Perhaps he was thickly disguised?
                    Kind regards, Sam Flynn

                    "Suche Nullen" (Nietzsche, Götzendämmerung, 1888)

                    Comment

                    • Simon Wood
                      Commissioner
                      • Feb 2008
                      • 5551

                      #11
                      Yes indeed, Delius was a master of disguise.
                      Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

                      Comment

                      • Sam Flynn
                        Casebook Supporter
                        • Feb 2008
                        • 13322

                        #12
                        Originally posted by Simon Wood View Post
                        Yes indeed, Delius was a master of disguise.
                        Ah, that would explain it
                        Kind regards, Sam Flynn

                        "Suche Nullen" (Nietzsche, Götzendämmerung, 1888)

                        Comment

                        • Wickerman
                          Commissioner
                          • Oct 2008
                          • 14864

                          #13
                          Originally posted by Simon Wood View Post
                          Yes indeed, Delius was a master of disguise.
                          A pilot was he?
                          Regards, Jon S.

                          Comment

                          • Simon Wood
                            Commissioner
                            • Feb 2008
                            • 5551

                            #14
                            Is that like an Egyptian being in denial?
                            Never believe anything until it has been officially denied.

                            Comment

                            • Sam Flynn
                              Casebook Supporter
                              • Feb 2008
                              • 13322

                              #15
                              Originally posted by Wickerman View Post
                              A pilot was he?
                              Delius was a composer who was practically paralysed - and blind - by the time he was 60. I don't think the chap in the photograph on p1 was Frederick Delius; if he was, the photographer must have caught him on a very good day.
                              Kind regards, Sam Flynn

                              "Suche Nullen" (Nietzsche, Götzendämmerung, 1888)

                              Comment

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