Spirit evoked memories of GFS early days

Heartbeat country I report on the continued activities of chairman of the Society, Caroline Stewart’s single-handed promotion of a George Formby day in the setting of some of the most beautiful country anywhere in the UK. Goathland Village Hall was the venue for this one-day event and was Caroline’s fourth Formby day in the area. In previous years the venue has been The Crossing Club in Grosmont but that has proved to be too small for the local regulars and the GFS concert goers. I have heard on many occasion from founder members of the The George Formby Society, just how good it was right at the birth of the GFS when (in the 60s and 70s) there would be no more than fifty people at the Blackpool conventions. The memories those veteran's retain, of the friendship and good fellowship in those early days, are something that today's version of the GFS with over 1200 members are hard to replicate. The Goathland one-day meeting must have been very similar to those early pioneering days. People traveling great distances to be in one place for the day to enjoy the music of George Formby and the friendship and companionship of each other’s company. Everyone helped From unlocking the door of Goathland Village Hall at noon, to locking it again around midnight, those who attended rallied round to help in any way that they could, bringing in tables and chairs and converting the village hall into a smashing concert room with a good sized stage to perform from. Caroline had taken care of everything, funding the whole event herself and even providing a top class bar, expertly run by Martin Fowkes and John Howard, who sold drinks at very popular prices. After Caroline had paid all her dues and demands for the day, she still had £140 left of clear profit which she donated to a charity supporting prostrate cancer. GFS shop So many familiar Formby faces right from the beginning of the day but the Esk Valley locals also attended and the atmosphere generated by one and all was the best! It was a pleasure to be in the room for the day. We even had Kathryn and a small GFS Shop which took over £160 of much needed revenue with as usual, all profits going to the Society. There are so many memories which we all took home with us, so many great performances from people too numerous to mention, we even had musical director of the GFS Matt Richards with us in the evening and of course he received all the applause his brilliant performances deserved. Another member who made our day was the lovely Gabriella La Foley who could brighten any room with her delightful performance. Members traveled from all over the place and at the close of the evening everyone was in no doubt that they had been witness to something very special. Andy Poppleton, the official GFS tuition expert also managed to run a ukulele class during the interval. Caroline Stewart Actually Caroline’s George Formby day is not really an official part of the Society's calendar – but it should be as it is just as important and definitely as enjoyable as any other event in the GFS year. When you consider that Caroline Stewart creates this day completely by herself, from booking the date, booking the hall, organising the refreshments and the bar and getting people to come and work and play and paying for all costs out of her own pocket, then manages to clear her costs and give the profit to a worthy charity, she actually deserves a medal! The Wigan Boat Express One other glorious Caroline Stewart moment was when she produced a railway engine nameplate which she had commissioned especially for the day with the nameplate bearing the magnificent title "Wigan Boat Express". On the day after the meeting, many GFS friends met at Grosmont railway station for photos with the nameplate on an actual steam train - they then proceeded to perform the song to the delight of all travelers on platform one! What an end to such a glorious weekend! Caroline’s fifth George Formby Day is already in the diary for May 6th 2017 and I cannot recommend it highly enough. Peter Pollard

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