Good News
Good news for George Formby fans in the
Chester area - which covers plenty of Formby
country with some very talented members in
and around the area.
A new branch of The GFS is to be formed and
the very first meeting will take place on
Thursday 3rd July in the Chester Rugby Club,
Hare Lane, Littleton, Chester, Cheshire CH3
7DB.
The evening will have a regular start of 19:40
and the whole branch is being organised by a
very talented and loyal GFS member, Cathy
Darlington. Cathy recently applied to the GFS
committee and they considered her application
at the GFS committee meeting in May 2014
and gave it a unanimous vote.
Cathy tells me that there is plentiful car
parking and there is a bar facility and a supper
will be provided. A raffle will also be held at
each meeting and the price of admission is just
£1.00
It is hoped that GFS members in the area
(and beyond) will support the new branch right
from the start. Cathy and her travelling
companion Greg Simister have visited the
Yorkshire Ukulele Circle at both their Mirfield
and Carrgate branches in the last month and
have brought with them some top class
entertainment.
I feel confident that with Cathy's efforts and
the support of GFS members and friends, the
new branch will be a roaring success. But it
needs you to make it so. Support Cathy in her
new venture!
The Venue: Chester Rugby Club, Hare Lane,
Littleton, Chester, Cheshire CH3 7DB
The Date: 3rd July, 2014 and every first
Thursday thereafter.
The highs and lows of a short-lived branch
New Branch
There is a lot going on in the UK at the moment what with the Tour
de France in Yorkshire and of course the football World Cup. But
all that pales into insignificance when a new branch of the GFS is
born - and finally, the waiting is over, after all the preparation to
ensure that things work out, the inaugural meeting of the Chester
branch of the George Formby Society was launched on Thursday
and was a great success! Everything worked like a charm and the
largest room at Chester Rugby Union club was full to capacity
with some people travelling many miles to be with Cathy
Darlington and her dedicated team.
I was reminded of a Blackpool GFS convention, such was the
talent on show, and who better that Greg Simister to be the first
player on stage. Greg also worked on the sound equipment
throughout the evening and did a great job, even managing to
adjust the microphones for every player.
Travel
GFS fans have no fear of traveling when it comes to getting to a
meeting. Caroline and Ray Stewart travelled from their home in
Grosmont, North Yorkshire to be at the opening event, a round trip
of around 320 miles! There was also a strong contingent from
Yorkshire.
Founder member John Walley was on hand and had kindly
brought with him some of his vast collection of memorabilia and
his wife Gill was kept busy (as usual) taking photographs of the
event.
GFS president Gerry Mawdsley was in attendance along with
various other committee members.
Top Class Entertainment
If anyone is any doubt as to visiting this branch, let me say that in
Lewis Clifton who is just up the road and local member Greg
Simister, we have two of the best players within the GFS and it
was worth travelling just to see them.
MC for the evening was Cathy Darlington who was entertaining
and informative with her introductions of those about to perform.
She also gave a poignant tribute to the late Cliff Royle who played
a very important role in Cathy's GFS development. The only
downside of Cathy being MC was that she didn't perform and that
just has to be corrected for future meetings.
Five Star Award
All in all, I have to give this evening and the venue, a five star
award, well organised, quality entertainment, a top class supper
courtesy of the lovely Marion Amos and a very comfortable and
well appointed room and bar will ensure that the GFS Chester
branch is here to stay.
And so after 27 months of splendid Formby
activity, the curtain finally closes on the Chester
branch of the GFS.
Not because of lack of support for this
excellent meeting, but only because branch
organiser Cathy Darlington has moved in to a
new life in South Yorkshire and sadly no one
from the membership of the branch was able to
make the commitment to continue Cathy’s
great work.
Some ukulele clubs and GFS branches must
have envied the support of the Chester branch,
also the venue (Chester Rugby Club) was one
of the best, clean and bright with a nice bar
area and very well run.
The last meeting of the branch on Thursday
1st September 2016 was again, very well
attended with some of the best George Formby
players and entertainers within the whole
Society.
The last night was definitely not a sad one as
we all enjoyed all that is best about the branch
– which is of course the entertainment, the
management of the branch and the always very
friendly atmosphere.
Great entertainment throughout the evening
helped to make it a very memorable way to
close.
Cathy Darlington was appropriately MC for
the evening, Cathy’s partner Kevin Staniland
(assisted by Greg Simister), did his usual
professional job on the sound mixer, always
ensuring that the backing track was correctly
adjusted for volume level and always making
sure that when the uke solo happened, a little
more volume was added to allow the
entertainers the best chance to showcase their
playing skills.
Over the last two years Cathy has enjoyed
the backing and support of various people who
have helped to make the meetings such a
success.
Cathy is grateful to Debbie and Dennis Lee,
Greg Simister and Sonja McKinnon, Lewis
Clifton, Jonathan and Pam Baddeley, Alan
Newton, John and Gill Walley, Marion Amos,
and especially, Kevin Staniland.
For me it was always a treat to go to the
Chester branch and I know that many others
felt the same, Chester’s loss is Yorkshire’s gain
and Cathy is now attending the Sheffield
branch and is a regular along with Kevin at the
Yorkshire Ukulele Circle gatherings.
Cathy did a brilliant job, the branch was a
success in every way and the George Formby
Society should be very grateful to her for doing
her bit to keep the Formby flame burning bright.
Well done Cathy – and welcome to Yorkshire!
Peter Pollard
Peter Pollard’s images
Gill Walley’s images
The branch winds up
How we reported news of the branch’s formation
Good News
Good news for George Formby fans in the Chester area - which covers plenty
of Formby country with some very talented members in and around the area.
A new branch of The GFS is to be formed and the very first meeting will take
place on Thursday 3rd July in the Chester Rugby Club, Hare Lane, Littleton,
Chester, Cheshire CH3 7DB.
The evening will have a regular start of 19:40 and the whole branch is being
organised by a very talented and loyal GFS member, Cathy Darlington. Cathy
recently applied to the GFS committee and they considered her application at
the GFS committee meeting in May 2014 and gave it a unanimous vote.
Cathy tells me that there is plentiful car parking and there is a bar facility and
a supper will be provided. A raffle will also be held at each meeting and the
price of admission is just £1.00
It is hoped that GFS members in the area (and beyond) will support the new
branch right from the start. Cathy and her travelling companion Greg Simister
have visited the Yorkshire Ukulele Circle at both their Mirfield and Carrgate
branches in the last month and have brought with them some top class
entertainment.
I feel confident that with Cathy's efforts and the support of GFS members and
friends, the new branch will be a roaring success. But it needs you to make it
so. Support Cathy in her new venture!
The Venue: Chester Rugby Club, Hare Lane, Littleton, Chester, Cheshire
The Date: 3rd July, 2014 and every first Thursday thereafter.
The highs and lows
of a short-lived branch
New Branch
There is a lot going on in the UK at the moment what with the Tour de France in
Yorkshire and of course the football World Cup. But all that pales into
insignificance when a new branch of the GFS is born - and finally, the waiting is
over, after all the preparation to ensure that things work out, the inaugural
meeting of the Chester branch of the George Formby Society was launched on
Thursday and was a great success! Everything worked like a charm and the
largest room at Chester Rugby Union club was full to capacity with some people
travelling many miles to be with Cathy Darlington and her dedicated team.
I was reminded of a Blackpool GFS convention, such was the talent on show,
and who better that Greg Simister to be the first player on stage. Greg also
worked on the sound equipment throughout the evening and did a great job,
even managing to adjust the microphones for every player.
Travel
GFS fans have no fear of traveling when it comes to getting to a meeting.
Caroline and Ray Stewart travelled from their home in Grosmont, North
Yorkshire to be at the opening event, a round trip of around 320 miles! There
was also a strong contingent from Yorkshire.
Founder member John Walley was on hand and had kindly brought with him
some of his vast collection of memorabilia and his wife Gill was kept busy (as
usual) taking photographs of the event.
GFS president Gerry Mawdsley was in attendance along with various other
committee members.
Top Class Entertainment
If anyone is any doubt as to visiting this branch, let me say that in Lewis Clifton
who is just up the road and local member Greg Simister, we have two of the
best players within the GFS and it was worth travelling just to see them.
MC for the evening was Cathy Darlington who was entertaining and informative
with her introductions of those about to perform. She also gave a poignant
tribute to the late Cliff Royle who played a very important role in Cathy's GFS
development. The only downside of Cathy being MC was that she didn't
perform and that just has to be corrected for future meetings.
Five Star Award
All in all, I have to give this evening and the venue, a five star award, well
organised, quality entertainment, a top class supper courtesy of the lovely
Marion Amos and a very comfortable and well appointed room and bar will
ensure that the GFS Chester branch is here to stay.
And so after 27 months of
splendid Formby activity, the
curtain finally closes on the
Chester branch of the GFS.
Not because of lack of
support for this excellent
meeting, but only because
branch organiser Cathy
Darlington has moved in to a
new life in South Yorkshire and
sadly no one from the
membership of the branch was
able to make the commitment
to continue Cathy’s great work.
Some ukulele clubs and GFS
branches must have envied the support of the Chester branch, also the
venue (Chester Rugby Club) was one of the best, clean and bright with a nice
bar area and very well run.
The last meeting of the branch on Thursday 1st September 2016 was
again, very well attended with some of the best George Formby players and
entertainers within the whole Society.
The last night was definitely not a sad one as we all enjoyed all that is best
about the branch – which is of course the entertainment, the management of
the branch and the always very friendly atmosphere.
Great entertainment throughout the evening helped to make it a very
memorable way to close.
Cathy Darlington was appropriately MC for the evening, Cathy’s partner
Kevin Staniland (assisted by Greg Simister), did his usual professional job on
the sound mixer, always ensuring that the backing track was correctly
adjusted for volume level and always making sure that when the uke solo
happened, a little more volume was added to allow the entertainers the best
chance to showcase their playing skills.
Over the last two years Cathy has enjoyed the backing and support of
various people who have helped to make the meetings such a success.
Cathy is grateful to Debbie and Dennis Lee, Greg Simister and Sonja
McKinnon, Lewis Clifton, Jonathan and Pam Baddeley, Alan Newton, John
and Gill Walley, Marion Amos, and especially, Kevin Staniland.
For me it was always a treat to go to the Chester branch and I know that
many others felt the same, Chester’s loss is Yorkshire’s gain and Cathy is
now attending the Sheffield branch and is a regular along with Kevin at the
Yorkshire Ukulele Circle gatherings.
Cathy did a brilliant job, the branch was a success in every way and the
George Formby Society should be very grateful to her for doing her bit to
keep the Formby flame burning bright.
Well done Cathy – and welcome to Yorkshire!
Peter Pollard
Gill Walley’s images
Peter Pollard’s images
The branch winds up
How we reported news of
the branch’s formation
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