The 55th annual meeting
of The George Formby Society took place on the
weekend of 17/18 September 2016. The highlight
of the weekend was the Saturday evening concert
which showcased a selection of songs from the
films of George Formby. This was actually a “mini-
version” of ‘Songs From The Films’. On the 50th
anniversary in 2011 every song from every film
was performed. This time we just featured a song
from each of the twenty films. Many of the
performers chose to celebrate the occasion by
dressing for the part which of course only added
to the fun.
Arranging The Show
GFS Chairman Caroline Stewart worked hard
over the three months prior to the convention
organising this event, publicising it at the previous
convention by asking for volunteers both at the
June meeting and also in the Society's magazine,
The Vellum. Eventually the twenty one (one film
had two songs performed from it) volunteers took
to the stage and the whole of Saturday evening
was taken up with a great show. What with Kitty’s
raffle and the bi-annual George Formby Society
ukulele raffle and Gerry’s always humerous
auction also taking place, Saturday evening was
quite a night and I feel sure that everyone headed
for home with warm thoughts on all that is so
good about The George Formby Society. John
Walley, our most respected founder member was
also immaculately turned out in a white tuxedo (as
was our President, Gerry Mawdsley), John took
us through each of the twenty films with little
anecdotes and provided vital but very entertaining
information before each performer took to the
stage.
Ukulele Raffle
Unfortunately the winner of the ukulele raffle could
not be with us but we offer warm congratulations
to Mr Geoffrey Pearson who’s winning number
(16604) was pulled out of the drum by Kathryn
and Gerry. I can tell you Mr Pearson, you have
won a lovely instrument which has been set up by
the one and only Eddie Uttley. I had the privilege
of having a little play on it shortly before the draw
and it is a beauty! One sad piece of news was
The Cinema
Our cinema projectionist, Jim Makin was on hand to display the title screen from
each of the films to add a little “eye candy” to the event and this again was a very
nice touch. A good sized audience viewed two of the best films. A 1967
production of “Looking Back At George Formby” featuring one of George’s
acting colleagues Gary Marsh. This documentary and “The Friday Show” which
was also shown had both being digitally restored. The “Friday Show” is generally
thought to be Formby’s finest moment when the man himself took us briefly
through moments of his sadly short life. One welcome but unexpected guest for
the weekend was “Cardboard George” who appeared courtesy of Neil Forshaw.
“Cardboard George” enjoyed the
best seat in the house to watch
the the Saturday show
and was then the subject of
fierce bidding in Gerry’s
Saturday evening auction and
was eventually given a new
home when a winning bid of £40
was accepted from one of our
always generous members.
that our regular September visitors from California, USA, Terry and
Marie Tucker and Bill and Sue Kornik had to pull out of making the trip
over at the very last minute owing to health issues suffered by Terry. We
have enjoyed the company of these long distance travellers for quite a
few years now and we were all very sorry that the trip had to be
cancelled. I know that I speak on behalf of all who know Terry within the
GFS when I say that we all wish you a speedy recovery back to good
health.
Annual General Meeting
On Sunday morning the first event of the day was the 55th annual
general meeting. The existing committee members all stepped down
and were re- elected. There were two committee places available and
has there was only one application for each position, no vote was
necessary and therefore Neil Forshaw and Lewis Clifton were voted
unopposed. Lewis might be a “new face” to the committee but he is
very well known within the GFS and has been the archivist for the last
three years. Both Neil and Lewis are very welcome. Lewis at 18 years
old is probably the youngest committee member in the Society’s history.
Volunteers The convention weekend obviously needs a lot of planning
and whilst this always takes place at a meeting prior to the convention
weekend, we also need many volunteers to help things run smoothly.
Taking names for the concerts is a thankless task but we always have a
loyal band of members who will put themselves forward. We are
grateful to all those who give up their leisure time to ensure that
everyone present has an enjoyable time. The band, MCs, people who
work the audio equipment, shop assistants, people who sell raffle
tickets, people who man the reception desk, photographers and the the
cinema projectionist, people who manage the stage, there are so many
members and committee members that are needed to make the
weekend work, it does not just happen! The committee could not do all
this on their own and are always grateful that we have willing hands to
back us up. A big thank you goes to one and all.
Coming shortly
In November we get another chance to do something a little
different when we celebrate the 65th anniversary of the hit show
“Zip Goes A Million” when some of the songs will be performed
and John Walley will tell the story of how George Formby
became the hit of the West End, it should be very interesting!
The 55th annual meeting of The George Formby Society took
place on the weekend of 17/18 September 2016. The highlight
of the weekend was the Saturday evening concert which
showcased a selection of songs from the films of George
Formby. This was actually a “mini-version” of ‘Songs From The
Films’. On the 50th anniversary in 2011 every song from every
film was performed. This time we just featured a song from each
of the twenty films. Many of the performers chose to celebrate
the occasion by dressing for the part which of course only added
to the fun.
Arranging The Show
GFS Chairman Caroline
Stewart worked hard over
the three months prior to
the convention organising
this event, publicising it at
the previous convention
by asking for volunteers
both at the June meeting
and also in the Society's
magazine, The Vellum.
Eventually the twenty one
(one film had two songs
performed from it)
volunteers took to the
stage and the whole of
Saturday evening was
taken up with a great
show. What with Kitty’s
raffle and the bi-annual
George Formby Society
ukulele raffle and Gerry’s
always humerous auction
also taking place,
Saturday evening was
quite a night and I feel
sure that everyone
headed for home with
warm thoughts on all that
is so good about The
George Formby Society.
John Walley, our most
respected founder
member was also
immaculately turned out in
a white tuxedo (as was
our President, Gerry
The Cinema
Our cinema projectionist, Jim
Makin was on hand to display
the title screen from each of the
films to add a little “eye candy”
to the event and this again was
a very nice touch. A good sized
audience viewed two of the
best films. A 1967 production of
“Looking Back At George
Formby” featuring one of
George’s acting colleagues
Gary Marsh. This documentary
and “The Friday Show” which
was also shown had both being
digitally restored. The “Friday
Show” is generally thought to
be Formby’s finest moment
when the man himself took us
briefly through moments of his
sadly short life. One welcome
but unexpected guest for the
weekend was “Cardboard
George” who appeared
courtesy of Neil Forshaw.
“Cardboard George” enjoyed
the best seat in the house to
watch the the Saturday show
and was then the subject of
fierce bidding in Gerry’s
Saturday evening auction and
was eventually given a new
home when a winning bid of
£40 was accepted from one of
our always generous members.
Mawdsley), John took us through each of the twenty films with
little anecdotes and provided vital but very entertaining
information before each performer took to the stage.
Ukulele Raffle
Unfortunately the winner of
the ukulele raffle could not
be with us but we offer warm
congratulations to Mr
Geoffrey Pearson who’s
winning number (16604)
was pulled out of the drum
by Kathryn and Gerry. I can
tell you Mr Pearson, you
have won a lovely
instrument which has been
set up by the one and only
Eddie Uttley. I had the privilege of having a little play on it shortly
before the draw and it is a beauty! One sad piece of news was
that our regular September visitors from California, USA, Terry
and Marie Tucker and Bill and Sue Kornik had to pull out of
making the trip over at the very last minute owing to health
issues suffered by Terry. We have enjoyed the company of these
long distance travellers for quite a few years now and we were
all very sorry that the trip had to be cancelled. I know that I
speak on behalf of all who know Terry within the GFS when I say
that we all wish you a speedy recovery back to good health.
Annual General Meeting
On Sunday morning the first event of the day was the 55th
annual general meeting. The existing committee members all
stepped down and were re- elected. There were two committee
places available and has there was only one application for each
position, no vote was necessary and therefore Neil Forshaw and
Lewis Clifton were voted unopposed. Lewis might be a “new
face” to the committee but he is very well known within the GFS
and has been the archivist for the last three years. Both Neil and
Lewis are very welcome. Lewis at 18 years old is probably the
youngest committee member in the Society’s history. Volunteers
The convention weekend obviously needs a lot of planning and
whilst this always takes place at a meeting prior to the
convention weekend, we also need many volunteers to help
things run smoothly. Taking names for the concerts is a
thankless task but we always have a loyal band of members
who will put themselves forward. We are grateful to all those
who give up their leisure time to ensure that everyone present
has an enjoyable time. The band, MCs, people who work the
audio equipment, shop assistants, people who sell raffle tickets,
people who man the reception desk, photographers and the the
cinema projectionist, people who manage the stage, there are
so many members and committee members that are needed to
make the weekend work, it does not just happen! The committee
could not do all this on their own and are always grateful that we
have willing hands to back us up. A big thank you goes to one
and all.
Coming shortly
In November we get another chance to do something a little
different when we celebrate the 65th anniversary of the hit show
“Zip Goes A Million” when some of the songs will be performed
and John Walley will tell the story of how George Formby
became the hit of the West End, it should be very interesting!
