A Rich tapestry

A rich tapestry was here at Blackpool where over 44 people performed on stage, with many more just up for the ‘thrash.’ So many people, the young, the not so young, all with their own stories and dreams, all with so many memories. Impossible to sum up the meeting in just words, it's more than that, it's the colours, the sounds, the actions and shared connections, the hopes and aspirations and common interests centred round one person and one instrument. All these people gathered together in one room, in one hotel in Blackpool. Everyone sharing their interest in George Formby. It is the members who make the society into a unique rich tapestry.

off to a cracking start

The June meeting in the Washington Suite was off to a cracking start. The empty room, the empty stage, the empty chairs, and the empty tables of Friday evening when a few volunteers were setting up, were gone by midday on the Saturday. Members had been trickling in all morning. By the start of the meeting we had a brilliant attendance and the room buzzed with anticipation. The shop was open for business, raffle prizes were displayed and tickets on sale, concert lists were filling up, display boards, display cabinets and prominently displayed were timetables of the weekend's activities. The room resounded to the steady strum of ukes, the sound of greetings, of laughter and general chit chatter. Promptly, at one o’clock, with the band on stage, the stage lights on, the meeting began. A stampede for the stage and with the first thrash was under way it was time to settle for a weekend of entertainment.

So, who was there?

Seemingly the world and his wife; fathers, mothers, uncles, cousins, brothers, sisters, husbands, wives – who have followed George Formby or the uke for most of their lives. There was Bjorn Heden from Sweden clutching his Dallas C, returning for his second meeting, so looking forward to performing and hoping 'it wasn’t as scary as last time.’ He said, ’this is the natural place for Formby fans and music'. Luckily Bjorn speaks perfect English as no one spoke Swedish! He'd travelled with his parents, but they'd departed on another trip and left him to attend the meeting. What a shame they missed his superb performances! Lovely to see Tommy Bland and girlfriend Louise Nelson this weekend. Tommy was one of the youngsters many years ago, and now he's all grown up. After 53 years absence it was good to see Linda Myers return. Linda was a member of the GFS in the early years and so good, and so glamorous that she made television appearances. She performed for us at Blackpool, and you could see from her delivery that she was a pro. She came to the meeting to sell a uke, which was mission accomplished. John Walley met her again in 1984 at the Palace Theatre, Manchester in the Show “Halls Of Fame” which included a tribute to George. She said she was “delighted to be at Blackpool and it was like “walking back to happiness.”

names beginning with J

And then there were enough names beginning with J to make the mind boggle. Jonathan Baddeley as compere, Jim Machin, in charge of the film projector, and a host of younger members whose names began with J. For thirteen-year-old Jamie Routledge with his parents travelling all the way from Essex, it was a long journey. This was Jamie’s first meeting and his first appearance on stage. He was superb, smartly dressed and confident and very well received. He’d learnt to play by watching Peter Pollard on You Tube and decided he wanted to play like that. He then discovered the society website. He revealed that when he played the uke at school, “People loved it at school because it was funny, and they'd not heard anything like it before”. Jamie owns a Dallas E uke and has been playing for just nine months. His music teacher taught him how to play the uke, but not like George Formby so he watched Lewis Clifton and the Blackpool Music School. He's watched all George's films and thinks 'Let George Do It’ has the best selection of songs with a good storyline. Well done, Jamie. The next J is for eighteen-year-old Jamie Bevan from Dudley, on stage for the first time. Jamie's grandparents were both members of the society and when his grandad died Jamie learnt to play from his grandmother and by watching videos of his grandad and later from You Tube videos. Jamie, a member of the Stourbridge branch, loves the song, ‘Swimming with the women.' Not on stage this time, although maybe next meeting, was another youngster whose name began with J. James Smith from Ilkley was in the audience. He has attended a few meetings now and feels welcomed so keeps coming back. James found George's music on You Tube and found it to be 'intricate and unique'. His favourite song is 'When I'm Cleaning Windows'. He plays the electric guitar and had his first ukulele when he was four years old and he purchased a banjo uke from Andy Poppleton a year ago. Hopefully we will see him on stage soon. The last J is for John Walley, founder member, appearing with Dennis Lee for the first time. Dennis had been suffering from sciatica, and at home was unable to stand for five minutes….. Debbie Lee reckoned her diversion therapy was successful as he stood on stage for far longer. Good thinking, Debbie!

first performers

Other first performances over the weekend included, Stephen Kirk from the South Yorkshire group sang ‘Riding Around On a Rainbow’, Malcolm Palmer’s son, Andrew who’d never been on stage before sang a couple of songs and Graham Crow swapped his accordion for a ukulele. Summer Valentine, also from South Yorkshire branch, no stranger to a stage, but new to the Blackpool stage. Summer was originally drawn to the society through the uke and then fell in love with George. As a teenager she played in bands, then lost confidence but the society has rebuilt it and changed her life. She describes ‘Blackpool Rock’ as a classic and so it is perhaps her favourite song. Over the weekend meetings it’s usual to see members developing their style, their confidence and their repertoire. Charlie Evered proved no exception with his performance of ‘Pasadena’ - Watch out Lewis! His technique, style and confidence are increasing, he’s playing a greater part in the society. Again, he was compere and this time he implored members not to go to the Stage Craft Class because he didn’t want to lose his audience! However, he did promote the shop and the tickets for the ukulele raffle which is for a rather lovely Wendell Hall Ukulele. Now it's rare to hear some completely new original material, but this was provided by new member Liam Blessings who originally came from Wales but now resides in Carlisle. Liam writes his own songs He admitted that he was initially ‘Gobsmacked and didn’t know the GFS existed or that it began a year after his birth.” The society inspired him and he successfully performed two of his creations.

range is astonishing

So, from Formby music, to pop, rock and old time favourites the range is astonishing. Members choose their favourites. Bruce Cox admitted to liking little known songs “so that if it goes wrong then nobody knows.” Geoff and Pat Silcock, resonating with happiness, performed an old favourite and I’m Gonna Wear The Pants’, which was appreciated by the audience. The husband thought he was in charge and the wife knew she was. Pat said, “it was just the same at home. He thinks he’s in charge.” Dale Uttley agreed with that, Eddie only thinks he’s in charge….! A sentiment surely shared by many wives... Angie Parker chose to sing ‘Somebody’s Wedding Day’ as there were so many wedding anniversaries. So, it was for everyone married for 30,40 50 and 60+ years. David Smith from South Yorkshire managed to grab the audience’s attention and silence any chatter before he even started to play when he described his song as containing, “transvestism, gender fluidity, perversion, tattooing and homogeny.” It was, he said, ‘A song for today’s audience, full of everything, even though it was written many years ago’ it was, of course 'The Left-Hand Side Of Egypt” and his next number, ‘Anything Goes’ said it all! For the younger members there was a history lesson in song all about the ‘Knocker upper’ A time before alarm clocks and digital technology. Chris Holmes explained that A knocker-up's job was to rouse sleeping people so they could get to work on time. They used a short, heavy stick to knock on doors or a long and light stick, to reach windows on higher floors. The “knocker-upper" was a common sight in Britain, particularly in the northern mill towns, where people worked shifts. But who woke up the knocker-upper?

Listening to people chatting

It became apparent that members were sharing concerns whether it was over their Lancashire accent (Martin Selman) but there was only one worry… “Forget the key and Matt will sort you out, forget the words and the audience will sort you out, but forget the chords…..” and you’re on your own! Maybe this is one for Daz Barry to sort out in his Stage Craft Class, which he described is ‘all about the secrets of coming up on stage and getting it all wrong!’ However, his class does provide some valuable advice. Be smart, smile, stand up straight, don’t look down, don’t look at your fingers and above all don’t stress by worrying if the split stroke will fit…just concentrate on the song and the story. Attendees of Andy Poppleton’s uke class endeavour to master the split stroke whilst those with Cathy Staniland concentrate on the wooden uke.

george formby life size cutout

June’s meeting saw our George appear in many guises. We saw him in the two films ‘Off the Dole’ and ‘Turned Out Nice Again.’ Never before has he been spotted standing on our stage alongside Andy Poppleton. No, not in the flesh of course, but as a life sized black and white cardboard model. In early April, Anna and Anders Eldman from Stockholm contacted President Andy Poppleton as they were visiting Blackpool during their holidays and wondered if the society would like the cut out of George for the archives, or raffle or auction. Both are members of the society and have a real love of Formby and the ukulele. Anders owns a Gibson UB3 which he purchased from Andy Eastwood. Anders bought the cut-out from the Portobello Road market in 2010. Originally it was on display at the Alhambra Theatre in Leicester Square London until 1942 which was quite lucky because in 1943 the German bombs destroyed the theatre. It was also fortunate that Lionel Owen had organised a coach for his Yorkshire Ukulele friends to travel to Blackpool since the cut-out could then travel back home in comfort and style, it being too large to fit into Andy Poppleton’s car!

something for everyone

Finally, the June meeting provided something for everyone. There was plenty to see, plenty to do, time to share confidences and to be with friends. That’s the magic of the GFS. It’s the people who make this society - without them, their stories, ideas and idiosyncrasies there’s nothing there. When on Sunday night Caroline Stewart sang ‘We’ll meet again” it provided a fitting end to the meeting - however, unlike the song lyrics, we do know where and we do know when we’ll all meet again. Gill Walley - June 2024