On Monday, February 24, 2025, civic volunteer Fred Farnham, aka Freddie the Clown, was treated to a surprise 98^th Birthday celebration in Welland. Over 40 friends of Fred came together to celebrate Fred’s accomplishments to the local and wider community over his active life.

Fred was born in England on February 24, 1927, joined the British armed services & was “demobilized’ in 1948. He immigrated to Canada in 1957 with his wife and son, moving to Welland in 1964 working for Carl Damude Ltd. repairing business machines and teaching Business Machines at night school until his retirement in 1997

Fred’s alter ego, or second life, began in 1968 when he became Freddie the Clown at Sunset Haven, a retirement home in Welland. He used his clown persona and ability to create wonderful balloon animals to create smiles in children and adults alike. Freddie the Clown was always the lead character in major fundraising, particularly for Easter Seals and Lakewood Camp.

He was presented a Paul Harris Fellow by the Rotary Club of Welland in 1988, later joining Rotary in 1996. He has been heavily involved in Rotary Youth Programs RYLA, SLAPSHOT, now Jr. RYLA, and Rotary Youth Exchange. In other community partnerships, he was a Big Brother twice, while mentoring with Big Brothers Big Sisters later in life. He was there at the beginning of the Welland Food Drive and successfully corralled Welland Rotary Members to participate from the beginning in 1990 up to this past November. He was a long-time blood donor until, for some reason, he aged out….Today, Fred still volunteers to read to young children at Ross Public School.

Those celebrating with Fred were community members, past participants in Rotary Youth Programs and Rotarian friends from both sides of the Boarder.

Happy Birthday Fred!

Picture 1 – Fred Farnham cutting Birthday Cake

Picture 2 – Group shot of attendees at Birthday Celebration