It is with great sadness that I have to report this
week, the death of our patron and friend, Ted
Formby. Ted was last in the line of George’s
immediate family. The last close link we had with
George Formby. Ted was thirteen years younger
than George so obviously he must have missed
much of his brother as George was of course
constantly away entertaining the masses. But
Ted although probably the only member of the
family who didn’t have a go at entertaining, was
always so very enthusiastic about his famous
brother and equally (in his day) famous father.
Ted came to know and to love the GFS rather
late in life after we contacted him for permission
to conduct some renovation work on the Formby
monument in Warrington Cemetery. I can still
clearly remember the day when, with Dennis
and Pat Taylor, I travelled to the home of Mollie
Cohen who was a long-time friend of the
Formby family, to meet Ted and Win for the very
first time. This was initially to discuss how to go about the restoration work but the evening
went with such success that it was inevitable that Ted would be drawn into the Society.
He attended many of the Blackpool conventions,
always accompanied by his lovely wife Win and was
always ready to make himself available for the
countless Formby fans who really wanted just to get
a little closer to George, but actually found that Ted
also had a good story to tell about his own life and
times. He never tired of meeting new faces and his
visits were always a great success and delighted
members both old and new. He made so many
friends on his visits and everybody had a good word
for him.
Ted always maintained a very private life, never
wishing to bask in the glory of either his father or his
brother. He must therefore have given much thought
before agreeing to attend his first convention in
September 1997. But he was an instant success and
was constantly in demand to sign vellums and
membership cards (including my own).
Some excellent TV appearances were made by Ted, and once again he carried this off in his
own inimitable style, always giving George and the GFS the best possible publicity.
It seemed such a natural thing to honour him with the title of Patron of the George Formby
Society. The only person to hold this title within the George Formby Society.
On behalf of Formby fans the world over, I would like to extend our deepest sympathy to Ted’s
wife Win and their family.
Win is overwhelmed by the messages, cards and flowers sent from friends known and
unknown over the last few days. The support that has been shown to her and the family
means so very much and she wishes to thank one and all for the kindness and sympathy
directed to her and her family. She says it would be impossible to thank everyone personally
but is strengthened and comforted by all the support.
Peter Pollard
February 28th 2007
It is with great sadness that I
have to report this week, the
death of our patron and friend,
Ted Formby. Ted was last in the
line of George’s immediate
family. The last close link we had
with George Formby. Ted was
thirteen years younger than
George so obviously he must
have missed much of his brother
as George was of course
constantly away entertaining the
masses. But Ted although
probably the only member of
the family who didn’t have a go
at entertaining, was always so
very enthusiastic about his
famous brother and equally (in
his day) famous father.
Ted came to know and to love the
GFS rather late in life after we
contacted him for permission to
conduct some renovation work on
the Formby monument in
Warrington Cemetery. I can still
clearly remember the day when,
with Dennis and Pat Taylor, I
travelled to the home of Mollie
Cohen who was a long-time friend
of the Formby family, to meet Ted
and Win for the very first time.
This was initially to discuss how to
go about the restoration work but
the evening went with such
success that it was inevitable that
Ted would be drawn into the
Society.
He attended many of the
Blackpool conventions, always
accompanied by his lovely wife
Win and was always ready to
make himself available for the
countless Formby fans who really
wanted just to get a little closer to
George, but actually found that
Ted also had a good story to tell
about his own life and times. He
never tired of meeting new faces
and his visits were always a great
success and delighted members
both old and new. He made so
many friends on his visits and
everybody had a good word for
him.
Ted always maintained a very
private life, never wishing to bask
in the glory of either his father or
his brother. He must therefore
have given much thought before
agreeing to attend his first
convention in September 1997.
But he was an instant success
and was constantly in demand to
sign vellums and membership
cards (including my own).
Some excellent TV appearances
were made by Ted, and once
again he carried this off in his own
inimitable style, always giving
George and the GFS the best
possible publicity.
It seemed such a natural thing to
honour him with the title of Patron
of the George Formby Society.
The only person to hold this title within the George Formby Society.
On behalf of Formby fans the world over, I would like to extend our
deepest sympathy to Ted’s wife Win and their family.
Win is overwhelmed by the messages, cards and flowers sent from friends
known and unknown over the last few days. The support that has been
shown to her and the family means so very much and she wishes to thank
one and all for the kindness and sympathy directed to her and her family.
She says it would be impossible to thank everyone personally but is
strengthened and comforted by all the support.
Peter Pollard
February 28th 2007
