Magazine article shines spotlight on GFS
The GFS are featured in the prestigious magazine Lancashire Life in their September 2001 issue. The
June Convention is the subject of the article and reflects the Society and its ongoing works in a very
good light. As well as the report, there are numerous photographs of George Formby and the members
of the GFS. The reporter is David Pilkington and the Photographer is Bill Wilkinson
The article follows:
His music still lives on in the hearts of hundreds of
fanatical fans who meet regularly to commemorate
one of Lancashire's greatest icons.
George Formby who died in 1961 was more
than a mere celebrity. Along with Gracie Fields and
L. S. Lowry he was one of the defining county
figures of the 20th century. And to this day
members of the George Formby Society meet
regularly as a tribute to his life and his music.
The society celebrates its 40th anniversary this
year but its format is still the same. Young and old
bring along their ukuleles to jam along to George's
old hits and talk about his music. The hundreds of
fans meet four times a year at the Winter Gardens
in Blackpool.
Formby was a huge star in his day. When he
died in 1961, 150,000 people lined the two mile
funeral route along the Fylde coast to pay their
respects - the largest turn out there has ever been
for a British show business personality.
The public loved him and many still do. The
society was formed shortly after his death and has
1,000 members from all around the world.
President, Dennis Taylor said: 'Formby was an
international entertainer. Anybody below the age of
40 will have no memory of him but children get into
his music through their grandparents and three of
our members were on Blue Peter with their
ukuleles. They absolutely love him.'
A few weeks after Formby died an
advertisement was placed in the Stage magazine
asking for anybody interested in forming an
organisation to commemorate the memory of
George Formby to contact a fan called George
Wilson. The first meeting took place at the Imperial
Hotel in Blackpool in 1961 and there were 56
members.
Dennis and his wife enjoy every
aspect of the society. `We love the
society and we love the people in it.
We are like a big family. The future
is quite bright.'
The society's 40th anniversary
celebrations took place at the Savoy
Hotel in Blackpool on August
15th16th.
The GFS are featured in the prestigious
magazine Lancashire Life in their
September 2001 issue. The June
Convention is the subject of the article
and reflects the Society and its ongoing
works in a very good light. As well as the
report, there are numerous photographs
of George Formby and the members of
the GFS. The reporter is David
Pilkington and the Photographer is Bill
Wilkinson
The article follows:
His music still lives on in the hearts of
hundreds of fanatical fans who meet
regularly to commemorate one of
Lancashire's greatest icons.
George Formby who died in 1961 was
more than a mere celebrity. Along with Gracie
Fields and L. S. Lowry he was one of the defining county figures of the 20th
century. And to this day members of the George Formby Society meet regularly
as a tribute to his life and his music.
The society celebrates its 40th anniversary this year but its format is still the
same. Young and old bring along their ukuleles to jam along to George's old
hits and talk about his music. The hundreds of fans meet four times a year at
the Winter Gardens in Blackpool.
Formby was a huge star in his
day. When he died in 1961,
150,000 people lined the two
mile funeral route along the
Fylde coast to pay their respects
- the largest turn out there has
ever been for a British show
business personality.
The public loved him and
many still do. The society was
formed shortly after his death
and has 1,000 members from all
around the world.
President, Dennis Taylor said:
'Formby was an international
entertainer. Anybody below the age of 40 will have no memory of him but
children get into his music through their grandparents and three of our
members were on Blue Peter with their ukuleles. They absolutely love him.'
A few weeks after Formby died an advertisement was placed in the Stage
magazine asking for anybody interested in forming an organisation to
commemorate the memory of George Formby to contact a fan called George
Wilson. The first meeting took place at the Imperial Hotel in Blackpool in 1961
and there were 56 members.
Dennis and his wife enjoy every aspect of the society. `We love the society
and we love the people in it. We are like a big family. The future is quite bright.'
The society's 40th anniversary celebrations took place at the Savoy Hotel in
Blackpool on August 15th16th.
Magazine article shines spotlight on GFS
