BACK TO WHERE WE BELONG!

Gill Walley Reports on the first meeting at The Imperial Hotel for nearly 30 years!

Home Sweet Home

Under a wet, stormy, but warmer weekend than most, we returned to our ancestral home. Back to our roots, to the place where it all began back in the 60’s. Gerry beamed, Tony grinned, Dennis smiled and John Walley purred with delight. Alan Chenery remarked that the room looked even bigger when it was empty! The Lancastrian was a lovely room and Alan had been there since the crack of dawn to ensure that everything was just right.

So we’re back to the memories of the early 1960’s when the society was still in its infancy, with fewer members and many nostalgic memories for those who remember the beginning, back in the Warbreck and Edgerton rooms on the first floor, back to the times when Jack White was the manager, back to the days of the 1960’s. Those were the days of The ABC Theatre in 1963, when John Walley remembered meeting the likes of George Formby’s mum, Harry Scott, Pat Howson, Arthur Askey, Jimmy Clitheroe and Sir Stanley Matthews. Also an incredible meeting between himself and Billy Hartley with the Beatles when all of them were stuck in the Imperial Hotel’s lift!

During this convention many members shared their precious memories. Dickie Speake played a tribute to Billy Uke Scott whom he’d met at the Imperial many years ago.
Kitty, who ran the raffle then, and is still running it now, remembers the days when John Herdman was the manager, and on one occasion, returning from shopping to find a load of fireman and a fire- engine outside the hotel. Kirsty and her boyfriend were stuck in the lift and had to be rescued!

Keith Smith, who regards himself as “an old Imperial member” joined the society in 1971, remembered that, the 10th Anniversary edition of the Vellum being for him, “particularly useful as it gave details of all of George’s films. In those days we had no printing facilities and the magazine had to be duplicated.” At one time he had been chairman, treasurer and editor of the magazine and had seen many changes. “In the early days it was totally different. They put us anywhere then, even in the basement with the swimmers! The society was usually held in two small rooms. The meetings were very informal and we only had a piano and no other backing facilities. Dennis O’Connell was a superb pianist. It was very primitive then, but now we are so lucky that we have vast facilities.”

Harold, the former Imperial footman, (retired now for 24 years) , remembered meeting Frank and George’s sisters and popped in to return John Herdman’s photo to the society, which was placed upon the stage. He proudly showed photos of himself posing outside with George’s bike. The photo in question shows George singing ‘You Don’t Need A Licence For That’, from the film ‘George in Civvy Street,’ and was presented to John Herdman on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary as a gesture to the hotel in 1986 for looking after the society. Trust House Forte stored it away through lack of interest and now, like ourselves, it has resurfaced and returned to its origins. Like us it will now be a firm fixture at future meetings.

So how did the first meeting ‘back home’ go? Sterling work had been done by Alan Chenery who stated that “preparing for the meeting was like planning a wedding.” The room was set out ready, the sound system sorted and stage lighting borrowed and by early morning all it needed was the members!”
‘Welcome to the Formby Weekend’, a song written by Dickie Speake, and sung by Tony Thornton, saw the convention off to a flying start or rather a surreal, one owing to the magenta and blue lighting which, whilst giving the performers a ‘bit of a glow’ as if they’d spent too long on the beach, warmed up the proceedings nicely! There were many other aptly named songs sung by old and new members alike, such as ‘I Remember George’ and ‘I Wish I Could Play The Ukulele...’ Dickie Speake also remarked that he and the band also wished that some members could play the uke like George, so that life on the keyboard would be less guesswork! So it’s all guesswork for the band!” He also added the comment that Alan Chenery had a list of 120 songs and perhaps some of us could learn some of them! Maybe next time! The band, as always, did a sterling job and showed their talents by performing with their ukes, as well as providing backing for everyone else! Matt’s hobby of collecting phonograph cylinders and 78rpm records was shared and so was the keyboard.

New members included Daz Barry from Sheffield who has been performing for just one year; Laurie Tawn who confidently performed for the first time and David who enrolled at the September meeting and makes his own ukuleles. “It takes six weeks from beginning to end, just doing a bit here and a bit there.” He admitted to being “dead chuffed” when he sold one! Steve Helm returned after a few years’ gap with the appropriate line, “we’ve been a long time gone.” Jordan Hartley, friend of Joseph Hearson, missed him at the last meeting and also missed him at this one, performed for the second time and admitted to being very nervous. Talented, yes, and intelligent too. When asked what the attraction of George Formby for a teenager was, he replied, “all the modern stuff is rubbish!” What discernment – he will go far!

Another member, Margaret Moran, raised the temperature when she offered to kiss John Walley and admitted that “she liked it in her hand” (I hope she meant the microphone) and told Dickie Speake that she was “ready for him!”(I hope she meant his accompaniment). Frances Terry, Tommy Teapot, Dale Norman and his “action men”, Paul Kenny, Dennis Taylor (who admitted it was 30 years ago when he first trod the boards and in the early 80’s and played to bigger bus queues and had more hair....Here’s to the next 25 years!) and to all the many, many more people appeared on stage over the weekend.

The comperes made their usual encouraging observations. Saturday was a Baddeley day, as Pam began in the afternoon and Jonathan finished with the evening concert. Sunday was shared by John Walley and Catherine Darlington. Paul Kenny appeared and proudly informed the audience that he was wearing his new Italian suit. John rye remark was that “Paul’s now sporting the Italian look, which made him look like a stick of spaghetti!” Dickie commented that whilst he liked Paul’s shoes he hoped his feet weren’t that shape! Cyril, a long standing member for over 27 years, stood on stage stroking his uke lovingly, prior to performing and admitting to spending time going over his senior moments, whereupon John Walley thanked the matron “for letting him out for the afternoon!”

Catherine introduced “two handsome and virile young men...” as Peter and Dennis appeared to perform their duet. This gentle good humour, reminiscent of the ‘Two Ronnies,’ ensured the success of the concerts which were great fun for performers and listeners alike. Dickie Speake organised an impromptu thrash on Sunday afternoon for all those with “ukes in D”, to stop them “just plonking” as he put it! Even Frankie’s mum joined in – watch out Frankie! Teddy Alexander performed a wonderful mime of going into a fish and chip shop in the 1940’s.. ah those were the days!

Kitty’s raffle was again well supported raising £134. There were lots of prizes, no microwaveable slippers just a yard of Jaffa cakes, so the lucky winner can have a balanced diet at all times, one biscuit in each hand.
Jerry’s auction of 78inch records described as, “like CD’s but bigger and black” began with fierce bidding from Kitty and ended by making a total of over £60 for the society.
The shop parted members from their money and had only 6 coasters left and Peter’s newsreel disc was a great success. Many sales are now conducted on-line as well as at the meetings, so the only grouse was from Pat, who grumbled that Dennis (husband) “always forgets to put the last date for posting things before Christmas in the Vellum,” but she’s going to have a quiet word!

So where did people eat? That was one of the things that might have to change with the change of venue, as the Imperial was not near the Deansgate Kitchen and there seemed to be very little in the immediate vicinity. So Deansgate or not? Those members who could, returned as normal to their boarding houses, Dale ventured to the Deansgate and found it open, but very quiet and empty downstairs and only half full upstairs, so how long it will remain our favourite watering hole is now in doubt which will be a great loss, unless of course, you know differently! Unfortunately it is too far to walk there eat, and walk back and return on time for the film!
So, final thoughts on our venue were very encouraging. Most members enjoyed the greater security as there were no members of the public wandering around and the room could be locked. Frankie liked the coloured lights (her new CD was on sale in the shop). Sean thought the “atmosphere was better,” Young Michael Pickles said it was “friendlier,” Albert and his wife found it “comfortable and warm,” Jonathan Baddeley admitted to being “somewhat relieved,” as he liked to see the audience and their reactions. The closeness of the stage to the audience was definitely a hit and made everything much more intimate. Surprisingly, nobody mentioned missing the shops!

Most members did mention the heating. It was great to be warm. There was only one thing that members really missed! Litter bins, there weren’t any! So maybe we can work on that for next time!
The Imperial Hotel looked after us, they even printed food menus with our society’s name at the top-a very nice touch. We are back home to where it all began forty eight years ago. The Imperial is the best hotel and our George deserves the best. And, of course, as we all know there’s no place like home!

PETER'S REPORT

HOME