march 2005
Over Forty Years
It is over forty years since George Formby passed away and you would think that by this time the George Formby Society might be struggling to attract new members and that it might be that the numbers of members could be on the decrease owing to old age etc. Nothing could be further from the truth.Chris Napier
Consider the fact that eight-year-old Christopher Napier on his first visit to the Blackpool conventions literally stole the show over this first convention of 2005. Christopher and his parents turned up on the Saturday morning and Christopher confidently walked up to the reception and boldly stated that he wanted to join the George Formby Society. He was already wearing a George Formby tie and was carrying a ukulele case so he certainly looked as if he meant business. He proved this when later that day he went on stage and brought the house down with a standing ovation from a 300 strong audience. Christopher showed remarkable stage presence for one so young and his cheeky grin as he sang “Leaning on a Lamp Post” said it all. With youngsters like Christopher in our ranks, then the future of the GFS is safe and well. We enlisted more new members over the weekend then at any other convention for some years and members travelled from the United States, Sweden, Spain and Holland.The Band
The band this time consisted of either Mark Walsh or Chris Weightman on keyboard, Tony Thornton on bass and Dale Norman on drums. It gets harder to write about the conventions because everyone is a good result for the GFS and you should really try to attend if you want to learn more or just enjoy the music of George Formby. The GFS shop also did good business and everybody involved in the organisation and running of the event should be congratulated. The whole weekend was the usual highly enjoyable experience with friends new and old renewing acquaintances
Over Forty Years
It is over forty years since George Formby passed away and you would think that by this time the George Formby Society might be struggling to attract new members and that it might be that the numbers of members could be on the decrease owing to old age etc. Nothing could be further from the truth.Chris Napier
Consider the fact that eight-year-old Christopher Napier on his first visit to the Blackpool conventions literally stole the show over this first convention of 2005. Christopher and his parents turned up on the Saturday morning and Christopher confidently walked up to the reception and boldly stated that he wanted to join the George Formby Society. He was already wearing a George Formby tie and was carrying a ukulele case so he certainly looked as if he meant business. He proved this when later that day he went on stage and brought the house down with a standing ovation from a 300 strong audience. Christopher showed remarkable stage presence for one so young and his cheeky grin as he sang “Leaning on a Lamp Post” said it all. With youngsters like Christopher in our ranks, then the future of the GFS is safe and well. We enlisted more new members over the weekend then at any other convention for some years and members travelled from the United States, Sweden, Spain and Holland.The Band
The band this time consisted of either Mark Walsh or Chris Weightman on keyboard, Tony Thornton on bass and Dale Norman on drums. It gets harder to write about the conventions because everyone is a good result for the GFS and you should really try to attend if you want to learn more or just enjoy the music of George Formby. The GFS shop also did good business and everybody involved in the organisation and running of the event should be congratulated. The whole weekend was the usual highly enjoyable experience with friends new and old renewing acquaintances
march 2005
