THE MAY 2026 CONVENTION

The second convention of 2026 was held once again in the Washington Suite of the Imperial Hotel, Blackpool. It proved to be a highly attended event, particularly on Saturday. While Sunday proceedings are usually a little quieter—especially the Sunday evening concert—they were no less enjoyable. It never fails to surprise me that, despite reduced membership numbers compared to the Society's peak years in the 1990s and early 2000s, the convention-going public remains so steadfast in its support of the Blackpool events.

THRASH PHOTO OVERFLOWS

GFS photographer Gill Walley was kept extremely busy taking photographs for the magazine. Her task of capturing a "thrash" photograph of all the assembled performers on stage has now become virtually impossible; the sheer number of people who took to the stage rapidly packed the area and overflowed almost the entire length of the Washington Suite!

ONE-DAY MEETING

Lady Chair Gail Kinraid made an early announcement that the fourth convention has been restored, albeit in a different location and for one day only. The venue will be the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Nottingham on 7 November 2026. While these details are confirmed, the proposed times of 11:00 am to 6:00 pm have not yet been finalised and may change. Gail also advised that members wishing to stay overnight can benefit from a special GFS room rate and should enquire about this when making their booking. For those who may be unaware, events away from Blackpool are nothing new. Meetings away from the seaside date back to the earliest days of the Society, with "Northern" meetings historically taking place in Preston and Halifax. The Halifax gatherings proved particularly popular, being held more than once in the mid-1960s at The Royal Oak public house, whose landlord, Eric Ramsden, was himself a Society member. During the 1980s, Hemel Hempstead hosted a number of successful one-day events. In the 1990s, the Society visited Llandudno on two occasions, quite separate from the later Victorian Extravaganza weekends. A number of one-day meetings were also held at The Kingfisher Club in Milton Keynes, organised by the late Jeffrey "Formby" Booth, son of Frank Formby.

PLAYERS

One would naturally expect to find some excellent players within our ranks. George Formby remains readily available through films and archive footage, allowing us all to marvel at his speed, dexterity, and unique playing style. Happily, the weekend once again showcased performers capable of reaching those much-admired Formby heights. Travelling from Yorkshire for the day, we were delighted to welcome Dickie Speake. For more than fifty years, Dickie has been admired throughout the Society for his remarkable playing style. He does not travel as frequently these days, which is entirely understandable, but he demonstrated once again that while the years may advance, true skill remains undiminished. His opening number on the wooden ukulele was a song not heard for some time but one long associated with his extensive repertoire: "The Thing-Ummy Bob", made famous by the great Northern star of the Formby era, Gracie Fields. Dickie completed his spot with a superb rendition of "I'm Going to Stick to My Mother", played on a Mitchell Monarch instrument. Other players who shone were Jamie Routledge and Ryan Willetts. Fifteen-year-old Jamie only joined the GFS in October 2023, and his playing standard has already shot through the roof! It is such a joy to watch this young man. Chatting with Jamie and his mum and dad on Sunday afternoon, it was easy to see just how much this lovely family has blended in and enjoys the Blackpool GFS atmosphere, despite their long journey from home (a round trip of over 500 miles). Ryan and his father, Stephen, are both experts in the Formby style of playing and are always professional and a treat to watch.

A TOTAL SURPRISE!

One young man who is also a delight to watch on stage, but could not be with us this weekend due to ongoing school exams, is fifteen- year-old Charlie Evered. Charlie may have been missing, but on a personal note, I was totally surprised to be summoned on stage on Saturday afternoon to be presented by GFS President Andy Poppleton with a Vellum-type magazine. This wonderful gift celebrated my recent eightieth birthday and looked back at my life within the George Formby Society. Even though I hear from Charlie on a regular basis, he kept this wonderful surprise completely hidden from me. It felt a bit like being on the popular TV show, This Is Your Life! The facts that Charlie uncovered were astonishing, but the nicest part of this lovely surprise was the two pages of fellow members' comments. To read what these good people had to say was humbling and heartwarming. I wish to extend my sincere thanks to Charlie and all the lovely people who took the trouble to comment, proving once again why the GFS can boast the nicest group of people imaginable.

ANDY EASTWOOD

Another person who left his mark on the weekend was Andy Eastwood, who worked tirelessly to help make the event such a success. His stage performances were, as always, a joy to watch. Behind the scenes, Andy also contributed greatly by stepping into the role of Master of Ceremonies, bringing his professional theatrical experience to bear when introducing performers and maintaining the smooth flow of the programme. In addition, he spent time on the drums, where this accomplished multi-instrumentalist demonstrated yet another aspect of his talent. His superb sense of rhythm drove the band throughout his drumming sessions, adding an extra level of professionalism and enjoyment to the proceedings.

THE SOUND DESK

The sound quality throughout the convention was excellent, and we have Stuart Lowther to thank for much of that success. Stuart spent the entire weekend behind the sound desk, ably assisted at times by Andrew Higham, who may well take over the role on occasions when Stuart is unavailable.

SEPTEMBER BECKONS

In summary, the convention was another resounding success. We now look forward to September's meeting, which will feature the Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Sunday morning. This occasion will also allow us to celebrate the 65th anniversary of the George Formby Society—may this wonderful organisation long continue to thrive. Re-reading the generous tributes in the beautiful magazine compiled by Charlie Evered, I am deeply moved by the many comments reflecting on the work Kathryn and I have undertaken over the past thirty-five years. I can honestly say that serving the Society has been an absolute pleasure rather than a chore. Our ultimate goal has always been simply to ensure that the GFS survives, prospers, and continues to flourish in the best possible way. Peter Pollard - 08 June 2026