Family pay tribute to Royston entertainer who ‘made friends with everyone’
Zoe Freeman, Diane Freeman, Amy Ogilvie - Credit: Archant
A popular Royston entertainer has left a ‘huge hole’ in the hearts of loved ones after he died of an infection after being diagnosed with leukaemia.
Colin during his time in Wages of Sin. - Credit: Archant
Born and bred in the town, Colin Freeman’s roots lay firmly in Royston.
His grandfather was the town’s first ever postmaster and his mother – Kathleen Dodkin MBE, who lived until she was 100 – was a secretary working on the base during the construction of Bassingbourn Barracks.
Colin started his career in the army, and out of it came his natural gift for performing – during his time in the forces he taught himself the guitar.
His love for the spotlight meant he was destined for a career in showbiz.
Colin Freeman - Credit: Archant
You may also want to watch:
Colin started off as a redcoat entertainer with Butlins before setting up pop band Wages of Sin.
He criss-crossed the country playing live dates, and made the UK Top 40 charts.
Most Read
- 1 Melbourn Post Office reopens in new location
- 2 Woman pedestrian in her 50s killed in guided busway crash
- 3 Litlington's Josh ploughs into top spot with competition win
- 4 Drug dealer caught after being pulled over for using phone on A505
- 5 No Cambridge fireworks display on Midsummer Common this year for Bonfire Night
- 6 History Society unveils new town heritage board
- 7 Binmen revolt over alleged bullying, poor pay, low morale and staffing crisis
- 8 Could we face coronavirus restrictions over Christmas?
- 9 What is the government's Plan B for Covid this winter?
- 10 Where in Hertfordshire are the most incidents of weapon possession?
After he left the band, he set up his own disco and carried on touring around the country.
His daughter Zoe said: “He was so gregarious, he had a really dry sense of humour, and a deadpan face when he would tell a joke.
“He made friends with everyone. When we went on holiday, he would know everyone’s name in the hotel.
“When me and my sister would go to local takeaways, the people working there would call us ‘Colin’s girls’.
“But he wasn’t a show-off, he was very caring and kind.”
Later in life, he worked in sales, but always sold equipment for the entertainment industry.
He was famous across the town for putting on impressive firework displays at schools, and the family say everyone has a funny anecdote about him.
Colin was diagnosed with leukaemia in March, but he was considered to be in remission when he passed away earlier this month at the age of 70. Daughter Amy said: “He was a very young 70. He never had a cold or flu.”
A hands-on dad, he built his daughters an impressive tree house when they were younger, making them the envy of neighbours.
He is survived by his wife Diane Freeman, a lifelong friend who he married in April, daughters Zoe Freeman and Amy Ogilvie, step-daughter Heather Jenkins, and grandchildren Cody, Halle, Casey and Remy Ogilvie and Tom Finch.
