Husband and wife team
were dedicated members
An interesting travel piece
written by Charles for The
Vellum, Autumn 1992
We had a wonderful trip to Holland at the
beginning of May. Anthony Mason and Martin
Harrison were invited over by the Liberation
Organisers to entertain in the wartime
Formby manner.
All war veterans remember George for his
tireless efforts entertaining the troops, very
often in danger areas close to the front Lines.
He was considered a national asset after,
some say, second only to Winston Churchill.
General Montgomery certainly valued his
services.
The boys did us proud. They worked very
hard and enthusiastically, bringing back
memories to old soldiers of a youngish
George Formby singing his chirpy songs for
them.
It was thrilling to hear their voices transmitted
over loud speakers across Wageningen at
midnight on May 5th. They sang in such
unison, it was like one voice.
Some Americans summed it up when they
said, "Gee but your a couple of swell kids".
Howard Miller and his wife Christina
entertained us royally, we felt like part of their
delightful family straight away. They send
their best wishes to all their British Formby
friends.
For the interest of those who went on the now
famous coach trip two years ago, wo stayed
at the Internationa! Agricultural Centre which
provides excellent accommodation when
some of the students are not in residence.
Howard made arrangements for us
throughout and transported us everywhere.
Many thanks Howard and Christina for your
wonderful hospitality to us.
The Sunday was memorable when we joined
the Dutch players together with some very
talented jazz musicians in the beautiful
Junishoff Theatre for a concert. Eve was
invited to M/C the proceedings which gave
her great pleasure.
Some members had travelled long distances
to join us. We met Mario's charming sister
and her husband, and eight of us shared a
very good Chinese meal together in the
evening.
Because I am a war veteran myself (Royal
Naval Patrol Service), Howard managed to
get passes for Eve and I to attend the
Memorial Gathering for the 1945
Capitulations,
which is always honoured by the presence of
H.R.H. Prince Bernhardt who is greatly
respected by the Dutch people.
After the laying of wreaths and the march
past of Canadian, Polish and Dutch
divisions mainly, the boys again gave their
performance of Formby wartime numbers
which were very popular, many singing along
with them.
It was a very memorable, and enjoyable
experience and the lads were great company.
I have to report the death of long-term GFS member Charles Stewart.
Whilst not a founder member, Charles joined the Society around 1964 and with his wife
Eve, were both dedicated members especially in the 1990s.
Anyone who joined the Society in the early 1990s would be very familiar with the name
Stewart as Charles's wife Eve was the secretary of the GFS at this time and was a very
popular figure in the Society.
Charles and Eve resided in Blackpool and Eve freely admitted in an article in The Vellum
that it was Charles who secured the Winter Gardens as a venue for the GFS. This
arrangement went on for around twenty years and the fact that we had one of the most
prominent venues in Blackpool, completely free for all that time, was a massive
contribution to the Society, both in saving money and having such a prestigious location
right in the centre of town.
Charles became assistant secretary in 1992 supporting Eve and worked in that role until
the end of 1994. Together they created the Blackpool branch of the GFS. He retired from
running the branch in 2008, passing the management of it to Alan Chenery who still runs
it to this day.
Charles lost his wife Eve in September 2004
He was a retired lecturer in engineering and was 91 years of age.
Peter Pollard, 20th April 2016