Blue plaque unveiled in Oswestry for Mott the Hoople frontman

A ceremony in Oswestry has marked the unveiling of a blue plaque dedicated to the frontman of rock band Mott the Hoople. The installation was arranged by local councillor Duncan Kerr after Oswestry Town Council granted permission for the tribute.

Mott the Hoople was formed in Herefordshire in the 1960s and is best known for its 1972 hit "All The Young Dudes", written by David Bowie. The band broke up in 1974 but has reunited several times since for tours and live shows.

The round plaque carries a line from the singer's 1976 song "Irene Wilde": "gonna be somebody someday". Among those attending the unveiling was the singer's grandson, Patterson, who is himself a musician and said he was surprised by the size of the turnout.

Patterson said the tribute meant a great deal to the family. Growing up, he said, the family always knew who their grandfather was to the wider world, but to them he was simply "pops". Occasions like the unveiling, he added, highlight just how significant a figure he was and how deeply his fans still cared for him. Having something that commemorates not only his career but his life and birthplace, Patterson said, is enormously important to the family.