Hansons Auctions - 28 March
Long-term GFS member Derrick
Pearce has reluctantly decided to
sell some of the prized items that
his father, George, purchased at the
Beryldene auction, held in June
1961.
The star item is of course, the
kimono that George Formby wore in
the 1941 Columbia release, South
American George. The Mandarin
costume was also used during
George Formby’s last Summer
season before he died, at the
Queen’s Theatre, Blackpool.
Regular convention visitors will be
very familiar with the gown as it has
appeared at many conventions
throughout the years, thanks to
Derricks kindness in allowing
members to view (and some even to
wear it).
Items from his collection will be
auctioned by Hansons
Auctioneers at their Music and
Film Memorabilia auction to be
held on 28 March 2022. The
kimono, lot 741 “ Embroidered
Mandarin’s robe” in the 1961
Beryldene auction brochure, is
expected to fetch between
£6,000 to £8,000 but who
knows what the outcome will
be, George Formby’s Jaguar
Mk I car was recently auctioned
with an estimated value of
between £30,000 and £50,000
and in the end, realised over
£80,000!
In 2003 Derrick appeared in the
gown on BBC TV’s Antiques Roadshow where the kimono was
valued at £10,000.
The kimono isn’t the only item that Derrick is offering at auction, a
one-piece swimming costume, worn by George Formby in the film
Trouble Brewing in 1939, is set to go under the hammer for between
£500-£800.
However, a pair of Formby’s silk underpants owned by Derrick do not
form part of the auction.
Derrick said, “I don’t know how much dad paid for the kimono. I have
looked after it well and kept it covered up and protected. I’ve taken it
along to George Formby Society meetings. On one occasion George
Formby’s younger brother, Ted, put it on. At the November 2021
meeting, the society screened South American George and the
kimono was there for people to look at.”
GEORGE CHEETHAM IN THE KIMONO
DERRICK WITH TED FORMBY
ON THE WALL AT A GFS MEETING
DERRICK AUCTIONS KIMONO