Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder

Graeme Rose, creator of the Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder Podcast, is interviewed by renowned broadcaster Adrian Goldberg. Produced by Black Country Touring, this was originally recorded 8th April 2021. [This edit features music by Fox and Rocha]

The Italian Connection: Could Fred Jeffs have upset a ‘Don’ of the gelato world by confecting his business on a rival’s Langley turf? NB: Featuring the music of Fox and Rocha, edited / mixed by GR.

The appearance of new witness, Jan Achcenit, casts fresh light on the events of Maundy Thursday and the attack on Fred Jeffs. However ...closer investigation raises intriguing questions about the witness himself. NB: This unpolished Bonus material features the music of Fox and Rocha, but has been designed and mixed by GR

Episode 2 Bonus Material - Jeffs Wood by Graeme Rose

A week after the discovery of Fred Jeffs's body, the funeral takes place at Quinton Cemetery. The Inquest does little to provide closure and the Police investigation goes cold, but sixty years on, with memories still vivid, can we separate the facts from the fiction? What have we learned about Fred himself? Are we close to cracking the case and finally bringing the story to an end?

Against a backdrop of spawning teen culture, speculation emerges about Fred Jeffs’s secret lifestyle, with the possibility of gangland involvement and even an Italian connection. A new witness appears out of the blue, and the scope of the story gets wider.

As the Police investigation of the murder expands across County boundaries, we pick up on the story of Fred’s faithful dog, ‘Perro’ - the only known witness to the murder - who is discovered on Easter Sunday.

In Ep.4 attention shifts to a young woman seen in Jeffs sweetshop on Maundy Thursday. But who is she? And what has been going on between her and Fred Jeffs? As Police launch a search for the ‘Mystery Woman’, the Press speculate on Fred’s secret life.

News of the crime spreads quickly through the neighbourhood. Interviewees remember first hearing the news of a murder in their midst. For the Police, there is one obvious motive for the crime… robbery!

A few months after recording Ep.2, Graeme was contacted by the granddaughter of David Jones, one of the Smethwick boys who - along with Cyril Blakemore, Alan Jeffrey and John Gough, discovered the body of Fred Jeffs. Here he recalls that fateful Good Friday, 1957.

Episode 2 - The Short Good Friday by Graeme Rose

Fred Jeffs: The Sweetshop Murder A ‘true-crime’ mystery set in Birmingham and the Black Country, in the English Midlands. Graeme Rose investigates the real unsolved murder of his great uncle, sweetshop-owner Fred Jeffs, on Good Friday 1957, by talking to people who remember the case. Rose attempts to find answers and understand what really happened on that fateful night. Conceived, written, produced and presented by Graeme Rose. Music Composition & Sound Design by Fox & Rocha (guest musician Martin Cox) Directed by Steve Johnstone. This seven-part podcast series is supported by Black Country Touring (with support from Arts Council England and funding support from Creative Black Country). Episodes 1-4 produced with support from Birmingham Repertory Theatre and Arts Council England. Episodes 5-7 commissioned by Black Country Touring.

Graeme Rose investigates the unsolved murder of his great uncle, Fred Jeffs,, by talking to people who still remember the case, 60 years on. In Episode 4, we focus on a mystery woman seen in Jeffs's shop shortly before the murder. Who was she? And why were the Police unable to trace her? Written & presented by Graeme Rose. With original music / sound design by Sam Frankie Fox & Ricardo Rocha, and guest musician Martin Cox. Additional voices by Elinor Coleman and direction from Steve Johnstone.

As additional bonus material to Fred Jeffs Episode 2 - The Short Good Friday, here is a teaser fragment of an interview with David Jones, who with his Smethwick pals Alan Jeffrey, John Gough and Cyril Blakemore, stumbled across the body of Fred Jeffs on Sandwell Valley (Wasson)on Good Friday 19th April 1957. With thanks to Sam Frankie Fox and Ricardo Rocha for the original music, "April Chill", that underscores the interview. For Alan Warr's account of that day, here is a Link to Episode 2. https://soundcloud.com/graerose/episode-2-the-short-good-friday

A ‘true-crime’ noir mystery, set in Birmingham and the Black Country. Graeme Rose investigates the unsolved murder of his great uncle on Good Friday 1957, by talking to people who remember the case. Sound design and music performed by Sam Frankie Fox & Ricardo Rocha, with guest musician Martin Cox (double bass and electric gtr). Directed by Steve Johnstone. https://graemerose.com/fredjeffs/

A ‘true-crime’ noir mystery, set in Birmingham and the Black Country. Graeme Rose investigates the unsolved murder of his great uncle on Good Friday 1957, by talking to people who remember the case. Sound design and music performed by Sam Frankie Fox & Ricardo Rocha, with guest musician Martin Cox (double bass and electric gtr). Directed by Steve Johnstone. www.graemerose.com/fredjeffs

A ‘true-crime’ noir mystery, set in Birmingham and the Black Country. Graeme Rose investigates the unsolved murder of his great uncle on Good Friday 1957, by talking to people who remember the case. Sound design and music performed by Sam Frankie Fox & Ricardo Rocha, with guest musician Martin Cox (double bass). Directed by Steve Johnstone. www.graemerose.com/fredjeffs