Fred Fern

[fourteen85]

When I was a lad my parents used to call the skin off rice pudding - Fred Fern. My Dad was from Southport and my Mum from Penge. Has anyone else heard this phrase before or know where it might have come from

[MallyJ]

Never heard that one...... perhaps it was a family thing....

[Tilly2]

No, sorry. Never heard of Fred Fern. I have only heard that I couldn't knock the skin off a rice pudding but that was in my younger days. I can now.

[Jackdaw33]

Might be a connection with Fred Fernackapan, a Lancashire one?

http://www.theguardian.com/notesandqueries/query/0,,-1942,00.html

[Captain2]

Well that's stirred a few memories here Jackdaw. My parents, Lancastrians through and through, would regularly throw that name in. Thanks.

[DaisyNonna]

Fanackapan was in my home anyone who dawdled

[lankeela]

It was Fanny Fanackerpants from my Yorkshire connections.

[jno]

here's Gracie Fields (I can't vouch for the spelling). I gather there was a female equivalent, Fanny F.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cU35RGuxvwM