jack topping
I was saddened to learn this afternoon that a founder member of The George Formby Society has passed away. I refer to Jack Topping who was in Blackpool in September 1961 at the very first meeting and was enrolled over that weekend. Jack was in the GFS until 1967 when he went away to college. I met this gentleman when he returned to the Society in 2009 at the Spring convention, held in The Pavilion Theatre within The Winter Gardens. Jack was kind enough to send me some photos of his early days within the GFS. Jack was reunited with another founder member in Jphn Walley at the same Spring 2009 meeting. I reproduce the words from that Vellum report below. I wrote, “Surprise visitor was Jack Topping who joined the GFS in 1961 as a founder member. He was the first and at that time, the only member from George's home town of Wigan. Jack was a regular member until 1967 when he went away to college. He turned up at the weekend and met up with John Walley who he hadn't seen for many years. Jack noted that there were many more members at the Blackpool convention than in the trailblazing days of the 60s – welcome back Jack.” In a later issue of our magazine, Jack actually picked up his pen and wrote of how he joined in the first place and again, I reproduce Jack’s words below. “I saw a column in the local Wigan paper just after George had died. Local people were talking about knowing him and the various places where he lived nearby, and of course as my wife Joan says, I’m a magpie and have kept everything I found relating to George. I read there was to be a gathering of potential members to form the George Formby Society. I was only 19 in 1961 and was probably the youngest member. It cost one pound and one shilling to join, quite a large sum in those days. I still have my original membership card number 47. I didn’t have a uke to begin with but I was already in the entertainment business with my Punch and Judy show (which I still have). I eventually bought myself a Dallas D for £20, which I also still have. As a project, Joan and I have researched the Formby family roots relating to Wigan: every house, birth, death and marriage, not just the Formby’s but most of the people related to George’s dad and Eliza.” Jack continued to visit the Society and was obviously delighted to be back in the group again. On behalf of all members of The George Formby Society I wish to express our sincere condolences to Jack’s wife Joan and her family. Peter Pollard 20/08/2023
REUNITED AFTER MANY YEARS, JACK MEETS JOHN WALLEY
ONE OF THOSE EARLY PHOTOGRAPHS OF JACK
I was saddened to learn this afternoon that a founder member of The George Formby Society has passed away. I refer to Jack Topping who was in Blackpool in September 1961 at the very first meeting and was enrolled over that weekend. Jack was in the GFS until 1967 when he went away to college. I met this gentleman when he returned to the Society in 2009 at the Spring convention, held in The Pavilion Theatre within The Winter Gardens. Jack was kind enough to send me some photos of his early days within the GFS. Jack was reunited with another founder member in Jphn Walley at the same Spring 2009 meeting. I reproduce the words from that Vellum report below. I wrote, “Surprise visitor was Jack Topping who joined the GFS in 1961 as a founder member. He was the first and at that time, the only member from George's home town of Wigan. Jack was a regular member until 1967 when he went away to college. He turned up at the weekend and met up with John Walley who he hadn't seen for many years. Jack noted that there were many more members at the Blackpool convention than in the trailblazing days of the 60s – welcome back Jack.” In a later issue of our magazine, Jack actually picked up his pen and wrote of how he joined in the first place and again, I reproduce Jack’s words below. “I saw a column in the local Wigan paper just after George had died. Local people were talking about knowing him and the various places where he lived nearby, and of course as my wife Joan says, I’m a magpie and have kept everything I found relating to George. I read there was to be a gathering of potential members to form the George Formby Society. I was only 19 in 1961 and was probably the youngest member. It cost one pound and one shilling to join, quite a large sum in those days. I still have my original membership card number 47. I didn’t have a uke to begin with but I was already in the entertainment business with my Punch and Judy show (which I still have). I eventually bought myself a Dallas D for £20, which I also still have. As a project, Joan and I have researched the Formby family roots relating to Wigan: every house, birth, death and marriage, not just the Formby’s but most of the people related to George’s dad and Eliza.” Jack continued to visit the Society and was obviously delighted to be back in the group again. On behalf of all members of The George Formby Society I wish to express our sincere condolences to Jack’s wife Joan and her family. Peter Pollard 20/08/2023
1942 - 2023
jack topping
REUNITED AFTER MANY YEARS, JACK MEETS JOHN WALLEY
ONE OF THOSE EARLY PHOTOGRAPHS OF JACK