He was born and grew up in
Dalston, London (not in Plymouth as sometimes claimed), and after working as a salesman became a writer of popular songs for
music hall artistes. His early co-writes with other writers included "I Like Your Old French Bonnet" (with
Tom Mellor and Alf J. Lawrance, 1906, performed by Harry Fay), "If I Hadn't Got a Girl Like You" (with Mellor and Lawrance, 1907, performed by
Gordon Stretton), "She Sells Seashells" (with Terry Sullivan, 1908, performed by
Wilkie Bard), "My Indiana Queen" and "She's Somebody's Sweet Heart" (both with Mellor, 1909, performed by Gordon Stretton), "There's a Brown Gal Way Down in Old Dahomey" (with Mellor, 1910, performed by Gordon Stretton), Gifford re-emerged in the 1930s as a songwriter for
George Formby, working in particular with
Fred E. Cliffe. Their most popular songs include "
Fanlight Fanny" (1935), "
With My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock" (1936), "
When I'm Cleaning Windows" (1936), "It’s Turned Out Nice Again" (1939), "Mr. Wu’s a Window Cleaner Now" (1939), "
Imagine Me in the Maginot Line" (1939) and "Bunty’s Such A Big Girl Now" (1943), some of which also included Formby's name as a co-writer. In 1960, aged 82, Gifford died at home in
Streatham. He was unmarried and lived with his sister. ==References==