January 5th 2025.
In 1969, the Isle of Wight Music Festival was graced with the presence of Ginger Mills, a beloved figure in the vibrant city of St Albans. This bustling town in Hertfordshire is not only a popular commuter hub, but also a charming destination for weekend visitors who enjoy its quaint streets and lively market.
Despite being hailed as the best commuter town in England, St Albans is also known for its high cost of living, including exorbitant house prices and train tickets. But before it gained its reputation for wealth, the city was known for its thriving creative community. In 1970, the local music scene was at its peak with the rise of The Zombies, a band formed in St Albans in 1961. Young Maddy Prior, who later joined the folk-rock group Steeleye Span, was also making a name for herself in the city's pubs. And let's not forget Donovan, hailed as Britain's answer to Bob Dylan, who honed his musical skills in the folk clubs of Hertfordshire after his family moved from Scotland.
Amid these legendary musicians, there was one man who stood out and eventually became a folk hero in his own right: Ginger Mills. Living on the fringes of society, Ginger was born in Barnet in 1937 and was raised by nuns in Worcestershire after being abandoned by his mother. He eventually ran away and joined the famous Bertram Mills Circus, where he learned bare-knuckle boxing and worked with elephants. It is believed that this is where he adopted the surname 'Mills', while his bright orange hair inspired his first name.
By 1968, Ginger had made his way to St Albans, where he frequented pubs popular among beatniks, singers, and later, the hippie crowd. Clad in a leather waistcoat, cowboy hat, jeans, and adorned with several studded leather belts, Ginger was hard to miss. He was also covered in tattoos and often carried a ten-inch knife, which he used for his leatherwork. Despite his rugged appearance, Ginger's craft was highly respected and even caught the attention of American singer Marsha Hunt, who purchased one of his belts.
Local resident Jenny Robinson, whose family supported Ginger financially, described him as someone who always managed to stay afloat, even though he couldn't read or write. "Lots of people would help him out," she said in an interview with the St Albans Review in 2008. "He was involved with hundreds of residents for one reason or another. People were always more than generous. Even though he did not read or write, he knew all sorts of things. He would talk about what was going on in the world, and what was going wrong with the country. He loved walking in the countryside, and always knew what was going on in it."
In 2008, at the age of 70, Ginger passed away from a heart attack. His funeral at Pershore Abbey was attended by nearly 100 people, and his coffin was adorned with a wooly hat and flowers in the shape of an ace of diamonds. Even years after his death, Ginger remains a frequent topic of discussion among locals on social media and in local newspapers. What made this "gentle giant" such an iconic figure?
According to Catherine Newley, the audience development manager at St Albans Museums, Ginger is seen as a folk hero by many. The museum has displayed several of his belongings, including his famous belt, in the past. As Catherine shows a spread of archival newspaper articles, she points to a photo of Ginger posing in front of his battered campervan, wearing his leather hat and gazing directly at the camera. "I think this photo is pretty iconic," she says. "Before the Christopher Place Shopping Centre in St Albans, there was a place called Gentle's Yard, named after a local family. Ginger used to park his van there, and that's where you could often find him."
Catherine adds, "It's amazing how much people remember him. I did a 1970s exhibition about life in St Albans and his name was mentioned again and again. Locals bring him up all the time and tell us their memories. He was seen as quite a cool, older person to a lot of teenagers. We don't have a lot of concrete information about Ginger, but I think that's just because of the way he lived. He didn't have a fixed address or job."
In 1969, Ginger Mills made an appearance at the Isle of Wight Music Festival, one of the many events that showcased his love for music and his unique style. Ginger was a regular at the festival, along with thousands of other commuters who made the weekly journey from St Albans, a bustling city in Hertfordshire, to London. On weekends, the city was filled with visitors who flocked to its quaint streets and bustling market, seeking a day of leisure and exploration.
While St Albans may have recently been named the best commuter town in England, it is also known for its high house prices and expensive train tickets. Despite this, the city has a rich history of creative talent. In 1970, St Albans was at its peak in terms of its music scene. The Zombies, a popular band, had formed there in 1961 and were on their way to stardom. A young Maddy Prior, who later joined the folk-rock band Steeleye Span, was also making a name for herself in local pubs. And Donovan, hailed as Britain's answer to Bob Dylan, had honed his musical skills in the folk clubs of Hertfordshire after his family moved from Scotland.
Amid these musical legends, walked a man who would eventually become a folk hero - Ginger Mills. Living on the fringes of society, Ginger was born in Barnet in 1937 and was abandoned by his mother. He was raised by nuns in Worcestershire until he ran away and joined Bertram Mills Circus, where he learned bare-knuckle boxing and worked with elephants. It is believed that this is where he adopted the surname "Mills". His vibrant orange hair inspired his first name.
By 1968, Ginger had made his way to St Albans, where he frequented pubs popular amongst beatniks, singers, and later, hippies. He could often be seen strolling from his old camper van to the city center, dressed in a leather waistcoat, a cowboy-style hat, jeans, and several studded leather belts. Covered in tattoos and carrying a ten-inch knife, which he used for his leatherwork, Ginger certainly stood out among the picturesque streets of St Albans. Despite his appearance, his craft was highly respected, with one of his belts even being purchased by American singer Marsha Hunt.
Local resident Jenny Robinson, whose family had supported Ginger financially, shared that he did odd jobs and was involved with many residents, always managing to keep his head above water. She described him as a knowledgeable man who was interested in world events and loved walking in the countryside. Sadly, Ginger passed away at the age of 70 from a heart attack in 2008. His funeral at Pershore Abbey was attended by nearly 100 people, and his coffin was adorned with a wooly hat and flowers in the shape of an ace of diamonds.
Even years after his death, Ginger is still a frequent topic of discussion among locals on social media and in local newspapers. What made this "gentle giant" such an iconic figure? Catherine Newley, the audience development manager at St Albans Museums, believes that Ginger is seen as a folk hero by many. The museum has exhibited some of his belongings, including his famous belt. As she looks through newspaper articles about Ginger, Catherine points to a photo of him posing in his leather hat in front of his old campervan. She explains that Ginger used to park in a place called Gentle's Yard, and the locals often saw him there. She also mentioned that he was remembered fondly by many teenagers and was seen as a cool, older person.
Although there may not be many concrete facts about Ginger, Catherine believes this is because of the unconventional way he lived his life. He had no fixed address or job, yet he made a lasting impression on the people of St Albans. He will always be remembered as a unique and iconic figure, who lived life on his own terms.
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