Saying Farewell To Kitty

We made the long journey North together, four close friends who felt it was important that we should be there, not just to represent the George Formby Society, but to say farewell to a lady who over so many years had given her time and talent to help to raise vital funds to benefit the Society at a time when money was scarce. That was in 1984 and today “Kitty’s Raffle” is still helping the Society to stay afloat and is perhaps just as important now as it was back when Kitty rolled her sleeves up and started hunting around Blackpool for prizes to hand out to lucky raffle winners. Cathy and Kevin Staniland and Kathryn and Peter Pollard travelled together to say farewell to Kitty in the company of Alex and his family of children, grand children and even great grand children. It is easy to see just why Kitty and Alex have always been so proud of their family, the love and respect shown by all was really evident on the day that we attended the service for Kitty at the Borders Crematorium in Melrose. After listening to the lady Humanist speaking about Kitty’s life with Alex, and to the sounds of Al Bowlly’s “My Woman” and George Formby’s “Leaning On A Lampost” which was playing as we left the chapel, we travelled to Peebles to the Green Tree Hotel for a reception and it was there that we were able to renew old acquaintances especially with Alex and his family. It was also a real pleasure to meet Alex and Kitty’s son, John for the first time and to chat with Mary, Kirsteen and Patricia. It is some years since we had last met up with Alex in Blackpool but we were all delighted to see him again and even though this was the saddest of occasions, Alex was looking really well and was very positive, quite understandable when you consider the support that he enjoys from his loved ones. Alex and his family made us all so warmly welcome, it was such a pleasure to be with them and it made the long journey so worthwhile.
Even though we have not enjoyed Kitty’s company in the last years, it is a mark of her dedication and love of The George Formby Society that the Saturday raffle is still known and spoken of as “Kitty’s Raffle.” On behalf of all who knew this loyal, dedicated lady, I offer sincere condolences to Alex and all the family. Peter Pollard - 14/03/2024
kitty barrett 1933 - 2024
I learned late last night, the news that one of the best supporters of The George Formby Society has sadly passed away. This lady worked tirelessly on behalf of the GFS at the Blackpool conventions raising thousands of pounds. I refer to none other than the one and only Kitty Barrett. Kitty, alongside her beloved husband Alex have been members since 1962 and rarely missed a Blackpool convention even though they had a considerable round trip of around 400 miles to travel from their home in Scotland for each Blackpool weekend. Not just Alex and Kitty, but the whole family have been brought up within the happy atmosphere that makes up a Blackpool convention. Daughters Kirsteen and Patricia were actually introduced to the GFS as babies! Patricia eventually met and married GFS member Trevor Weston. Kitty and Alex have celebrated Golden and Diamond wedding anniversaries with us. I believe I can confidently state that the Barrett's long association with the Society has definitely been a family affair! Around 1984 Kitty joined the committee in the role of Fund Raiser and from then on she would organise the convention weekend raffle and would encourage all to join her in raising vital funds to help the society that Kitty along with Alex, had embraced so wholeheartedly. In the year 2004, Kitty was awarded Honorary Membership, the highest award the GFS can bestow. She was delighted to receive the award from President Dennis Taylor and it also gave great delight to the assembled members when the presentation was made at the September meeting of that year. She wrote in our magazine after receiving the award, "I was delighted to accept honorary membership after 42 years with the GFS. Years ago, the Society was going through a difficult time financially and the raffle was started then. I've been running it for 20 years. Arranging it begins at Blackpool on the Saturday when I search for suitable prizes. During that time, for a few years, I also enjoyed serving as a committee member along with my husband, Alex. I would like to thank the committee and fellow members for this wonderful honour, especially in George's Centenary Year - and for making me the first Scot to get this award." This wonderful, larger-than-life lady could most certainly be described as one who would wear her heart on her sleeve, she was a firm supporter of the Glasgow Rangers football team and had a great love of Pandas and would proudly show her tattoos of the of these two favourites to any of her convention friends. At the Winter convention of 2013, Gill Walley wrote, "For Alex and Kitty Barrett, November was a milestone. They have been members for a lifetime, and married for even longer, so were presented with a framed photograph to celebrate 60 years of wedded bliss. For Alex, it was the first time he had set foot on our stage. Congratulations to a lovely couple." Sadly and owing to ill health, Kitty and Alex around 2018, found it too difficult to make the long trip from Scotland to Blackpool and their visits and good company were sorely missed by many. Kitty's daughter, Mary would still visit and keep us updated with how the two of them were faring.
2004 - A DELIGHTED KITTY RECEIVES HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
ALEX AND KITTY CELEBRATE THEIR DIAMOND JUBILEE
MARY AND KITTY ENJOY A BLACKPOOL CONVENTION
FOREVER - KITTY’S RAFFLE
CATHY, MARY AND ALEX
CATHY AND ALEX
PETER AND ALEX
THE IMAGE DISPLAYED IN THE CHAPEL
I learned late last night, the news that one of the best supporters of The George Formby Society has sadly passed away. This lady worked tirelessly on behalf of the GFS at the Blackpool conventions raising thousands of pounds. I refer to none other than the one and only Kitty Barrett. Kitty, alongside her beloved husband Alex have been members since 1962 and rarely missed a Blackpool convention even though they had a considerable round trip of around 400 miles to travel from their home in Scotland for each Blackpool weekend. Not just Alex and Kitty, but the whole family have been brought up within the happy atmosphere that makes up a Blackpool convention. Daughters Kirsteen and Patricia were actually introduced to the GFS as babies! Patricia eventually met and married GFS member Trevor Weston. Kitty and Alex have celebrated Golden and Diamond wedding anniversaries with us. I believe I can confidently state that the Barrett's long association with the Society has definitely been a family affair! Around 1984 Kitty joined the committee in the role of Fund Raiser and from then on she would organise the convention weekend raffle and would encourage all to join her in raising vital funds to help the society that Kitty along with Alex, had embraced so wholeheartedly. In the year 2004, Kitty was awarded Honorary Membership, the highest award the GFS can bestow. She was delighted to receive the award from President Dennis Taylor and it also gave great delight to the assembled members when the presentation was made at the September meeting of that year. She wrote in our magazine after receiving the award, "I was delighted to accept honorary membership after 42 years with the GFS. Years ago, the Society was going through a difficult time financially and the raffle was started then. I've been running it for 20 years. Arranging it begins at Blackpool on the Saturday when I search for suitable prizes. During that time, for a few years, I also enjoyed serving as a committee member along with my husband, Alex. I would like to thank the committee and fellow members for this wonderful honour, especially in George's Centenary Year - and for making me the first Scot to get this award." This wonderful, larger-than-life lady could most certainly be described as one who would wear her heart on her sleeve, she was a firm supporter of the Glasgow Rangers football team and had a great love of Pandas and would proudly show her tattoos of the of these two favourites to any of her convention friends. At the Winter convention of 2013, Gill Walley wrote, "For Alex and Kitty Barrett, November was a milestone. They have been members for a lifetime, and married for even longer, so were presented with a framed photograph to celebrate 60 years of wedded bliss. For Alex, it was the first time he had set foot on our stage. Congratulations to a lovely couple." Sadly and owing to ill health, Kitty and Alex around 2018, found it too difficult to make the long trip from Scotland to Blackpool and their visits and good company were sorely missed by many. Kitty's daughter, Mary would still visit and keep us updated with how the two of them were faring. Even though we have not enjoyed Kitty’s company in the last years, it is a mark of her dedication and love of The George Formby Society that the Saturday raffle is still known and spoken of as “Kitty’s Raffle.” On behalf of all who knew this loyal, dedicated lady, I offer sincere condolences to Alex and all the family. Peter Pollard - 14/03/2024
2004 - A DELIGHTED KITTY RECEIVES HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
ALEX AND KITTY CELEBRATE THEIR DIAMOND JUBILEE
MARY AND KITTY ENJOY A BLACKPOOL CONVENTION
FOREVER - KITTY’S RAFFLE
KITTY BARRETT

Saying Farewell To Kitty

We made the long journey North together, four close friends who felt it was important that we should be there, not just to represent the George Formby Society, but to say farewell to a lady who over so many years had given her time and talent to help to raise vital funds to benefit the Society at a time when money was scarce. That was in 1984 and today “Kitty’s Raffle,” now organised by Kathryn is still helping the Society to stay afloat and is perhaps just as important now as it was back when Kitty rolled her sleeves up and started hunting around Blackpool for prizes to hand out to lucky raffle winners. Cathy and Kevin Staniland and Kathryn and Peter Pollard travelled together to say farewell to Kitty in the company of Alex and his family of children, grand children and even great grand children. It is easy to see just why Kitty and Alex have always been so proud of their family, the love and respect shown by all was really evident on the day that we attended the service for Kitty at the Borders Crematorium in Melrose. After listening to the lady Humanist speaking about Kitty’s life with Alex, and to the sounds of Al Bowlly’s “My Woman” and George Formby’s “Leaning On A Lampost” which was playing as we left the chapel, we travelled to Peebles to the Green Tree Hotel for a reception and it was there that we were able to renew old acquaintances especially with Alex and his family. It was also a real pleasure to meet Alex and Kitty’s son, John for the first time and to chat with Mary, Kirsteen and Patricia. It is some years since we had last met up with Alex in Blackpool but we were all delighted to see him again and even though this was the saddest of occasions, Alex was looking really well and was very positive, quite understandable when you consider the support that Alex enjoys from his lovely family. Alex and his family made us all so warmly welcome, it was such a pleasure to be with them and it made the long journey so worthwhile.
CATHY, MARY AND ALEX
CATHY AND ALEX
PETER AND ALEX
THE IMAGE DISPLAYED IN THE CHAPEL