september 2023

remembering dennis mitchell

After the Saturday cinema which featured the film "Come On George," the lights stayed low for a further 10-minute tribute to Dennis Mitchell. The cinema audience was a good one and by the time that the tribute was shown, the room was full again and many members expressed their very positive comments to me for my efforts in remembering Dennis. Many members who attended on Sunday missed this tribute and have requested that I present it here.

GOOD ATTENDANCE

I was overjoyed when I walked into the Washington Suite on Saturday morning and viewed a substantial number of members and visitors already in the room, chatting and preparing for the events to come over the September 2023 weekend. When GFS President Andrew Poppleton took to the stage at 13:00 to officially start the weekend, the room was looking great with approximately 200 people waiting to be entertained. Even on Sunday, we still maintained close to that number throughout most of the day with excellent attendances at the AGM and the two films.

OLD MEMBERS RETURN

I was delighted to meet again, some members who had not attended a convention for some years, but were back with us once again, making the most of the weekend and vowing to be with us again in November. The GFS had suffered from the pandemic but that is now disappearing fast enough to give us all the hope that we are now, once again, gaining new members at each meeting, giving us the firm belief that the only organisation to remember and promote the great George Formby is still rock solid after sixty-two glorious years.

fantastic entertainment

Once again we enjoyed some fantastic entertainment through the two- day event with top regulars like Steve Helme, Stuart Lowther, Andy Eastwood, Lewis Clifton and Tom Cutler and Peter Nixon and many others, showing us all just how to get the best from a banjo-uke. Of course, the GFS conventions are much more than just the experts, every performing member receives the same enthusiastic applause no matter what the playing standard achieved.

a full weekend of activity and entertainment

With two full days to look forward to, the revealing of the winner of the annual GFS Banjo-Uke Raffle on Saturday evening, two good films to watch, plenty of solid entertainment to view and a tuition class for wooden ukuleles conducted once again by ever-popular Cathy Staniland and a George Formby style of playing class which again was conducted by GFS President Andrew Poppleton, it was a very full weekend. The AGM on Sunday morning was also very well attended. In fact, something for everyone.

dennis mitchell remembered and dickie

speake’s abbott

The Saturday film feature was “Come On George” and immediately following the film was a tribute to the late Dennis Mitchell and then some poignant words from President Andrew Poppleton. The clip is available to view on this page. Following Dennis’ 10-minute tribute was another surprise when it was revealed that legendary GFS member Dickie Speake has donated his Abbott Victor banjo-uke to the GFS to dispose of as they think fit. Dickie sent the following words which I was proud to read out on his behalf. “In remembrance of our dear friend and honorary member Dennis Mitchell, I would like to donate my Abbott ukulele banjo to The George Formby Society. It has served me well for many years and like me, is beginning to show its age! Our committee may do with it what they wish for the benefit of our Society.

weekend raffle and uke raffle

Later in the evening the weekend raffle was drawn, Kathryn Pollard, Cathy Staniland and Pat Silcock managed to raise £270 of vital funds for the Society. In the first three conventions this year, Kathryn and her team have raised over £700 of raffle income. Also taking place this evening was the GFS Uke Raffle and this years prize was an Eddie Uttley ‘Dreamer.’ These beautiful instruments are lovingly created by Eddie and are a treat to play. The winner, Mr Derek Woodock, was not with us this weekend (I bet he wishes he had been!) so will be contacted and his prize will be presented to him at a later date.

charlie evered - welcome to the formby

weekend!

After all this excitement it was on with the show and a new, young member took to the stage for the very first time at his very first Blackpool convention. I speak of none other than thirteen-year-old Charlie Evered who performed two numbers,“Riding In The TT Races” and even though this young man has never met the aforementioned Dickie Speake, he has done his homework and his first song was Dickie’s “Welcome To The Formby Weekend.” Charlie brought the house down and touched the heart’s of everyone who witnessed his debut with his skilled, confidant performance. This young man is definitely one to watch at future Blackpool meetings and is just one more in a long line of talented youngster who have found their way to our Blackpool stage and then gone on to become GFS stars. Charlie’s mum and dad were sitting in the audience and they must have been so proud, I know I and all other members around the room took great delight in being privileged to watch the début performance of a great new talent.

the gfs - back to its best

A new committee was elected on Sunday morning and the rest of the day was spent once again with the usual excellent entertainment that we have enjoyed not only throughout this weekend, but for so many years in GFS history. To sum the weekend up, a total success and the appearance of young Charlie Evered is enough to inspire anyone and give us all the firm belief that the GFS is back to its best and can face the future with confidence. See you in November! PP - 18/09/2023
The GFS - Back To Its Best!

Just some of the comments taken from our Facebook page:

Was an excellent weekend, great number of songs of George played and emotional tributes, wonderful...thanks to everyone – Lyn Raybould Absolutely fantastic weekend, thanks so much to everyone involved! 62 years and counting! - Andrew Higham Good to see numbers up again to pre pandemic numbers always a "must go" weekend just zips along – Bernard Gallery I would just like to thank everybody who runs the George Formby Society you made my dreams come true yesterday. I got to sing live for the first time with the full band, I was so worried about it but everyone made me feel so welcome, I performed leaning on a lamp post as a beginner and I was so overwhelmed by all your kind words, thanks again everyone, I hope to get to meet you all again at the next convention. -Andy Brown It's been a fantastic weekend that just flew by. A huge thanks to all the committee members and volunteers – Angie Parker It was my first time at a GF convention and I loved it!! Amazing talent, I could watch it all day. Not much of this in Australia!! Well done – Helen Nicholson My pal and I attended this weekend, not as society members but as interested members of the public. He plays the uke, I don't but do like the music and films of George. Having never attended before we weren't sure what we were stepping into! However, we both had a thoroughly good time, and were made to feel very welcome by all we spoke to. We attended both the tutorial groups and my mate learned so much to help and improve his playing. So thank you all, hope to see you again next year, probably as members! - Allan Price
PAT & GEOFF SILCOCK - FAVOURITES AT THE GFS
HELEN WEATHERS HELPS WITH THE UKE RAFFLE
WELCOME TO THE FORMBY WEEKEND CHARLIE
THE DAVIES SISTERS, FRANCESCA & CATALINA

remembering dennis mitchell

After the Saturday cinema which featured the film "Come On George," the lights stayed low for a further 10-minute tribute to Dennis Mitchell. The cinema audience was a good one and by the time that the tribute was shown, the room was full again and many members expressed their very positive comments to me for my efforts in remembering Dennis. Many members who attended on Sunday missed this tribute and have requested that I present it here.

GOOD ATTENDANCE

I was overjoyed when I walked into the Washington Suite on Saturday morning and viewed a substantial number of members and visitors already in the room, chatting and preparing for the events to come over the September 2023 weekend. When GFS President Andrew Poppleton took to the stage at 13:00 to officially start the weekend, the room was looking great with approximately 200 people waiting to be entertained. Even on Sunday, we still maintained close to that number throughout most of the day with excellent attendances at the AGM and the two films.

OLD MEMBERS RETURN

I was delighted to meet again, some members who had not attended a convention for some years, but were back with us once again, making the most of the weekend and vowing to be with us again in November. The GFS had suffered from the pandemic but that is now disappearing fast enough to give us all the hope that we are now, once again, gaining new members at each meeting, giving us the firm belief that the only organisation to remember and promote the great George Formby is still rock solid after sixty-two glorious years.

fantastic entertainment

Once again we enjoyed some fantastic entertainment through the two-day event with top regulars like Steve Helme, Stuart Lowther, Andy Eastwood, Lewis Clifton and Tom Cutler and Peter Nixon and many others, showing us all just how to get the best from a banjo- uke. Of course, the GFS conventions are much more than just the experts, every performing member receives the same enthusiastic applause no matter what the playing standard achieved.

a full weekend of activity and entertainment

With two full days to look forward to, the revealing of the winner of the annual GFS Banjo-Uke Raffle on Saturday evening, two good films to watch, plenty of solid entertainment to view and a tuition class for wooden ukuleles conducted once again by ever-popular Cathy Staniland and a George Formby style of playing class which again was conducted by GFS President Andrew Poppleton, it was a very full weekend. The AGM on Sunday morning was also very well attended. In fact, something for everyone.

dennis mitchell remembered and dickie

speake’s abbott

The Saturday film feature was “Come On George” and immediately following the film was a tribute to the late Dennis Mitchell and then some poignant words from President Andrew Poppleton. The clip is available to view on this page. Following Dennis’ 10-minute tribute was another surprise when it was revealed that legendary GFS member Dickie Speake has donated his Abbott Victor banjo-uke to the GFS to dispose of as they think fit. Dickie sent the following words which I was proud to read out on his behalf. “In remembrance of our dear friend and honorary member Dennis Mitchell, I would like to donate my Abbott ukulele banjo to The George Formby Society. It has served me well for many years and like me, is beginning to show its age! Our committee may do with it what they wish for the benefit of our Society.

weekend raffle and uke raffle

Later in the evening the weekend raffle was drawn, Kathryn Pollard, Cathy Staniland and Pat Silcock managed to raise £270 of vital funds for the Society. In the first three conventions this year, Kathryn and her team have raised over £700 of raffle income. Also taking place this evening was the GFS Uke Raffle and this years prize was an Eddie Uttley ‘Dreamer.’ These beautiful instruments are lovingly created by Eddie and are a treat to play. The winner, Mr Derek Woodock, was not with us this weekend (I bet he wishes he had been!) so will be contacted and his prize will be presented to him at a later date.

charlie evered - welcome to the formby

weekend!

After all this excitement it was on with the show and a new, young member took to the stage for the very first time at his very first Blackpool convention. I speak of none other than thirteen-year-old Charlie Evered who performed two numbers,“Riding In The TT Races” and even though this young man has never met the aforementioned Dickie Speake, he has done his homework and his first song was Dickie’s “Welcome To The Formby Weekend.” Charlie brought the house down and touched the heart’s of everyone who witnessed his debut with his skilled, confidant performance. This young man is definitely one to watch at future Blackpool meetings and is just one more in a long line of talented youngster who have found their way to our Blackpool stage and then gone on to become GFS stars. Charlie’s mum and dad were sitting in the audience and they must have been so proud, I know I and all other members around the room took great delight in being privileged to watch the début performance of a great new talent.

the gfs - back to its best

A new committee was elected on Sunday morning and the rest of the day was spent once again with the usual excellent entertainment that we have enjoyed not only throughout this weekend, but for so many years in GFS history. To sum the weekend up, a total success and the appearance of young Charlie Evered is enough to inspire anyone and give us all the firm belief that the GFS is back to its best and can face the future with confidence. See you in November! PP - 18/09/2023

Just some of the comments taken from our

Facebook page:

Was an excellent weekend, great number of songs of George played and emotional tributes, wonderful...thanks to everyone – Lyn Raybould Absolutely fantastic weekend, thanks so much to everyone involved! 62 years and counting! - Andrew Higham Good to see numbers up again to pre pandemic numbers always a "must go" weekend just zips along – Bernard Gallery I would just like to thank everybody who runs the George Formby Society you made my dreams come true yesterday. I got to sing live for the first time with the full band, I was so worried about it but everyone made me feel so welcome, I performed leaning on a lamp post as a beginner and I was so overwhelmed by all your kind words, thanks again everyone, I hope to get to meet you all again at the next convention. -Andy Brown It's been a fantastic weekend that just flew by. A huge thanks to all the committee members and volunteers – Angie Parker It was my first time at a GF convention and I loved it!! Amazing talent, I could watch it all day. Not much of this in Australia!! Well done – Helen Nicholson My pal and I attended this weekend, not as society members but as interested members of the public. He plays the uke, I don't but do like the music and films of George. Having never attended before we weren't sure what we were stepping into! However, we both had a thoroughly good time, and were made to feel very welcome by all we spoke to. We attended both the tutorial groups and my mate learned so much to help and improve his playing. So thank you all, hope to see you again next year, probably as members! - Allan Price
PAT & GEOFF SILCOCK - FAVOURITES AT THE GFS
HELEN WEATHERS HELPS WITH THE UKE RAFFLE
WELCOME TO THE FORMBY WEEKEND CHARLIE
THE DAVIES SISTERS, FRANCESCA & CATALINA
SEPTEMBER 2023
The GFS - Back To Its Best!