It “Turned Out Nice Again” even before the meeting had begun! It all began on the previous Thursday when John Walley was whisked away by the BBC for interviews with Frank Skinner at the George Formby grave in Warrington, and then onto ‘Beryldene’, the last Formby home in Lytham and finally onto Blackpool’s North Pier to discuss George’s film career. Then on the Friday evening, at the Imperial, the BBC crew headed by director Daniel Wiles (of the ‘South Bank Show’) met with the committee to outline their ideas for the show and to assure everyone that disruption of the meeting would be minimal. So, the scene was set for an exciting convention.
So a great start to the March meeting, and despite a poor weather report, (March could be “the cruellest month” in Blackpool) but even that behaved itself as Saturday dawned bright and sunny and stayed that way all weekend leaving everyone feeling bright, cheerful and thankful to have survived the coldest winter for thirty years.
Alan Chenery had been up at the crack of dawn (well nine o’clock) setting up the room so that the chairs were laid out, stage set, and by ten o‘clock the first members were beginning to drift in, in twos and threes like the animals into Noah’s ark. Alex and Kitty Barratt, closely followed by Dennis Mitchell, Peter and Katheryn were amongst the first to arrive. Soon the George Formby Society’s banner was hoisted, Neil Forshaw had erected an eye catching display and the lighting sorted. No more brilliant magentas and greens, and no more ‘pop art’ faces for the artistes, just pure white light....and now at last everything was ready...
Everyone was hoping for a bumper attendance, not just because it was the spring convention, but because the BBC team were coming with Frank Skinner (a genuine Formby fan) to make a film about George, and so there was a buzz of excitement before anything actually started. This weekend was your chance to be on the telly!
As the final hours and minutes ticked by towards the start of the meeting, the Lancastrian suite filled up with ukes accompanied by their owners, gossip and greetings were exchanged.... It was obviously going to be a huge attendance.
The BBC camera crew arrived and set up their cameras at the back of the room...
Daniel Wiles, the producer buzzed around, obviously busy.......
The tempo and temperature inside the room rose. It literally became hotter and busier and noisier...... Gerry remarked with satisfaction, “It’s going to be full and hot!” Indeed John Walley had already discarded his thick winter shirt and changed into a thinner one, but still clung to his thermal undies! Other members in winter woollies just sweated it out.......!
Thirty minutes before the start and Frank Skinner arrived to stand at the back of the room talking with Daniel and Zoe, the programmes lovely researcher......
Members still streamed through the door.....the room was filling up.
Unseen, Andy Eastwood arrived and was whisked off for an interview with Frank Skinner..... Chris organised a thrash for all those with ukes tuned in ‘D’ as the meeting finally began. The room reverberated to the strum and beat of George Formby songs... Gerry hovered at the back like an expectant father waiting for the ‘important’ guests to return.....
The thrash finished..... Members returned to their seats..... There was a long pause so the talking continued ... The band waited in position on stage, ready to spring to life,...... In the background, the odd uke being plonked could clearly be heard above the general chatter.... The compere for the afternoon, Pam Baddeley, hovered by the side of the stage with her little list of the performers clasped in her hand. The camera crew continued to fiddle with their cameras... Everyone was waiting for something, anything to happen! And then it did. Pamela confidently announced Andy Eastwood. Andy strode purposefully on stage to a rapturous round of applause, clutching his little ukulele in his hand. His was a polished and confident performance but unfortunately an extremely brief one, for he was on his way from Carlisle to Leeds and had just made a quick detour to Blackpool, at Frank Skinner’s request. He did find a few seconds to sign autographs in the corridor, to explain that Frank was a genuine Formby fan and then, like a genie in a puff of smoke, he disappeared!
Back once more to the meeting when the ‘ordinary people’ took over. The first concert was then a mix of young and old members all firm favourites like Frances Terry, who changed costumes with each number she performed, John Walley whose tie added a few colourful notes, Tommy Quirk who “sweats buckets for the society” and decided to sing a medley of songs so that everyone could join in if he forgot the words and join in they did! Then there was Tony Lister followed by Phil Jones who attends branch meetings and is not often seen here in Blackpool. Phil sang an Al Bowley number which he dedicated to John Walley and he explained dated back to the time of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. Teddy Alexander was introduced as the first comedian to win ‘Opportunity Knocks’ many moons ago; Chris and Pete performed with ukes and bones. I wonder how many bones Pete has worn out over the years and more importantly where does he obtain them? Young Michael Pickles sang two numbers and Francesca revealed that after working with Ken Dodd he had advised her to remember “eyes and teeth” so she was looking round at members and smiling a lot. All the time the BBC cameras whirred....
The moment everyone had been waiting for arrived when Gerry Mawdsley introduced Frank Skinner onto the stage as our special guest star. Frank immediately endeared himself by admitting to being terrified (many members can identify with that feeling – all those eyes....on you!), made his excuses for any mistakes in advance, explained that he doesn’t do solos unless it’s by accident like when he leaves out the words and bits he doesn’t like or can’t remember! Just an ‘ordinary’ person then! He then explained that it was a ‘real honour to play here today’, to loving George and that this programme he was making was a ‘labour of love’. He had also paid £950 for a uke, a fact which further ingratiated himself with his audience. Unfortunately just before he played his prize uke, he stuck his foot in it by likening Chris to Granville from ‘Open All Hours’, (It must have been his pullover!). Both his songs were well performed and well received; his uke had served him well. Maybe he will return at a later date to play again? At the end he received, what all genuine Formby admirers receive – a thunderous applause for a truly genuine and self-effacing performance. One of the reasons why George was admired by legions of fans was that they didn’t just like him, they loved him and this audience loved Frank. He had every excuse because of who he was to have looked down on everybody but he was just the opposite. We looked up to him and gave him the applause he deserved. Then during the break, the poor chap was besieged by fans for requests for autographs and photographs and to do him credit, he didn’t once refuse, even though his face must have ached from the effort of smiling!
