I remember Fred quite well, no he wasn't all that popular, however, don't think he ever did anyone any harm at all. Turned places into bingo halls and night clubs. Think the Vic at Clayton may have been his last venture.
My ex and I were invited on a few occasions for late night supper at his house on The Esplanade in Rishton and he was always extremely generous, cooking us steaks instead of boiled ham sandwiches. Impressed me lots.
Don't know much about his business dealings to comment why he may have been unpopular ... think he really wanted to be liked and I did.
He was homosexual by the way, and acceptance and understanding only just firing in on this, so maybe that didn't help either.