Alf Harper
It is with sadness that I report the death of my good friend Alf Harper. I met Alf shortly after joining the GFS. He and his wife Jean got so much joy from being part of the society. You may remember Alf making the trip up to Blackpool in June last year complete with oxygen bottles. He was a member of the George Formby Club and I have a recorded interview with him of his memories of George. He was a lovely man and I kept in touch with him and Jean through letter and telephone conversations. Peter and Kathryn Pollard sent him copies of the convention DVDs and when he was too ill to travel the pair of them used to stay in and have their very own convention watching Dvds. Gladys Geoghegan, Ray Reynolds and Johnny Key have been so supportive to Jean and Alf. It's a sad loss but the George Formby Society meant so much to Alf and Jean that I can't help but feel proud of our collective efforts, in particular, those of the London Branch. Caroline Stewart
Jean and Alf at home
Alf with his ukulele
Jean and Alf with CarolineStewart
After defying the short-term prognoses of his doctors for the last eighteen months, our brave friend Alf died yesterday, Sunday 4th February 2018. The picture opposite, was taken two weeks ago and shows how Alf retained his cheerful disposition and love of music - especially George Formby - right to the end. Our thoughts and condolences are with Jean, Joan, Julie and Ben, and all the family. Johnny Key
Alf was a lovely man who with his dear wife Jean, really enjoyed his times at the Blackpool conventions. Even though Alf was always very ill when in our company, I never heard him complain of his illness, he was just happy to embrace the atmosphere of a GFS Blackpool convention. Caroline mentioned that we used to send DVDs to Jean and Alf when they could not make the long journey from London to Blackpool. Quite frankly I was humbled that they regarded them as something special which they would watch together when the convention was taking place in faraway Blackpool. Alf, no matter what his condition was, never ever failed to telephone me to thank me for sending them to him, I was honoured to do it for such special people. Alf was a unique GFS member in that he was actually a member of the original George Formby Fan Club which George and Beryl started in the late 1930’s. On behalf of all those who knew Alf and Jean from within our Society, I extend sincere condolonces to Jean, her family and all at the London branch who I know will feel Alf’s loss with great sadness. Peter Pollard
Members of the London branch with Jean and Alf
Alf was a lovely man who with his dear wife Jean, really enjoyed his times at the Blackpool conventions. Even though Alf was always very ill when in our company, I never heard him complain of his illness, he was just happy to embrace the atmosphere of a GFS Blackpool convention. Caroline mentioned that we used to send DVDs to Jean and Alf when they could not make the long journey from London to Blackpool. Quite frankly I was humbled that they regarded them as something special which they would watch together when the convention was taking place in faraway Blackpool. Alf, no matter what his condition was, never ever failed to telephone me to thank me for sending them to him, I was honoured to do it for such special people. Alf was a unique GFS member in that he was actually a member of the original George Formby Fan Club which George and Beryl started in the late 1930’s. On behalf of all those who knew Alf and Jean from within our Society, I extend sincere condolonces to Jean, her family and all at the London branch who I know will feel Alf’s loss with great sadness. Peter Pollard
Alf Harper
It is with sadness that I report the death of my good friend Alf Harper. I met Alf shortly after joining the GFS. He and his wife Jean got so much joy from being part of the society. You may remember Alf making the trip up to Blackpool in June last year complete with oxygen bottles. He was a member of the George Formby Club and I have a recorded interview with him of his memories of George. He was a lovely man and I kept in touch with him and Jean through letter and telephone conversations. Peter and Kathryn Pollard sent him copies of the convention DVDs and when he was too ill to travel the pair of them used to stay in and have their very own convention watching Dvds. Gladys Geoghegan, Ray Reynolds and Johnny Key have been so supportive to Jean and Alf. It's a sad loss but the George Formby Society meant so much to Alf and Jean that I can't help but feel proud of our collective efforts, in particular, those of the London Branch. Caroline Stewart
Jean and Alf at home Jean and Alf with CarolineStewart Alf with his ukulele
After defying the short-term prognoses of his doctors for the last eighteen months, our brave friend Alf died yesterday, Sunday 4th February 2018. The picture below was taken two weeks ago and shows how Alf retained his cheerful disposition and love of music - especially George Formby - right to the end. Our thoughts and condolences are with Jean, Joan, Julie and Ben, and all the family. Johnny Key
Members of the London branch with Jean and Alf