convention memories
Conventions have been held in Blackpool since the first year the George Formby Society was formed, the first being held on Saturday 16
September 1961. Membership was one guinea which translates into today's cash as one pound one shilling and that translates using an
inflation calculator into £30.69 so membership of the GFS is still good value.
The original room used within the Imperial Hotel is still in use although it is now known as The Princess Suite.
In 2009 Dennis Taylor took founder member John Walley back to that first historic room to reminisce on the first meeting and how the Society
has developed since that first weekend.
Dennis Taylor and John Walley remember the first convention
Dear Friends ,
Following on the Meeting held in Blackpool on the 16th
September,
I am happy to advise you now that our Society is properly and
officially in existence.
I also have great pleasure in acknowledging the confidence
that you placed in me by my election as your President.
Bill Logan - 9th October 1961
Enthusiast members at a very early meeting,
the photographs show amongst others, John
Walley, Bill Logan, Billy Hartley, Ray Bernard,
Sylvia Kennaugh, George Cheetham, Lionel
Owen and Jack Topping.
Included here also are the first cover of The
Vellum magazine and Bill Logan’s opening
words.
View the complete “Memories” featuring
John Walley and Dennis Taylor. Created in
2009 by Peter Pollard.
‘It just seemed like a good idea at that time
to go into the room were the first meeting
took place and have a chat. The whole
session was unscripted, just Dennis and
John having a friendly chat and sharing
memories of the George Formby Society
that they both worked so hard to improve
and has given pleasure to so many others.’
Peter Pollard August 2024
Conventions have been held in Blackpool since the first year the
George Formby Society was formed, the first being held on
Saturday 16 September 1961. Membership was one guinea which
translates into today's cash as one pound one shilling and that
translates using an inflation calculator into £30.69 so membership of
the GFS is still good value.
The original room used within the Imperial Hotel is still in use
although it is now known as The Princess Suite.
In 2009 Dennis Taylor took founder member John Walley back to
that first historic room to reminisce on the first meeting and how the
Society has developed since that first weekend.
Dennis Taylor and John Walley
remember the first convention
Dear Friends ,
Following on the Meeting held in Blackpool on the
16th September,
I am happy to advise you now that our Society is
properly and officially in existence.
I also have great pleasure in acknowledging the con-
fidence that you placed in me by my election as your
President.
Bill Logan - 9th October 1961
Enthusiast members at a very early meeting,
the photographs show amongst others, John
Walley, Bill Logan, Billy Hartley, Ray Bernard,
Sylvia Kennaugh, George Cheetham, Lionel
Owen and Jack Topping.
Included here also are the first cover of The
Vellum magazine and Bill Logan’s opening
words.
View the complete “Memories” featuring John Walley
and Dennis Taylor. Created in 2009 by Peter Pollard.
‘It just seemed like a good idea at that time to go into
the room were the first meeting took place and have a
chat. The whole session was unscripted, just
Dennis and John having a friendly chat and
sharing memories of the George Formby Society
that they both worked so hard to improve and
has given pleasure to so many others.’
Peter Pollard August 2024
convention memories
