“Now everybody’s got a crazy notion of their own. Some like to mix up with a crowd; others like being alone. It’s no one else’s business as far as I can see, but every time I go out, the people stare at me with me little ukulele in my hand.”
George Formby
Introduction
With a career that spanned 40 years and a British treasure that made 21 films, over 230 records and appeared in two Royal Command performances, George Formby was like a stick of Blackpool rock, savoured and adored—a talented entertainer and musician who was charismatic and helped a nation through the gruelling Second World War. By 1939, George was the highest-paid performer in the United Kingdom, earning an estimated £100,000 a year, the equivalent of over £2 million in today’s money. He was a natural who always portrayed himself as friendly with a cheeky grin. He was a performer who had the expertise of holding an audience in the palm of his hand, entertaining them with his ukelele-banjo renditions that not only resulted in rapturous applause but also a resounding cry for more—someone who tapped into national pride and who was loved as much as Vera Lynn.
Our George
Born George Hoy Booth on 26 May 1904 in Wigan, Lancashire, George was the eldest of seven children. He had four brothers and two sisters. His father, George, was a famous comedian in the music halls but didn’t want any of his children treading the boards. He sent George to train to become a jockey at seven. He rode his first professional race at the age of ten, a sprightly three-stone thirteen-pounds. However, when his father died prematurely in 1921 and was now too heavy to be a jockey, with encouragement from his mother, George decided to make the bold step of going on stage.
Formby certainly wasn’t an instant success. Although his father had plenty of contacts, George used his father’s material, working under the name of George Hoy. He got bookings, but the couples in the audience were more interested in canoodling than his act. They were tough years, and by chance, a fellow actor sold him a ukulele for two pounds and ten shillings. George couldn’t read music; he never could. However, he managed to self-teach himself the instrument and thanks to a bet that he would play it on stage, Formby went down like a storm at the Alhambra in Barnsley. The ukelele never left his side from then on.
Hitting the Big Time
George, now married to Beryl, armed with a film script that they had both written with Arthur Mertz, travelled to London. They toured the film studios trying to sell the idea but were always given the same response. “Never heard of George Formby”. They weren’t interested and didn’t want to know. Downbeat but determined, the couple returned to the provinces, and when George was playing in Warrington, a man called George E. Blakeley approached him, saying he wanted to take some pictures with George. Formby nearly grabbed his hand off. He invited him to discuss it further that Sunday afternoon.
When they met that Sunday, Blakeley reiterated his keenness to work with George but questioned the timescale as they didn’t have a script. Cheekily, George pulled out the much-rejected script from inside his jacket. He liked the idea, and in 1934, George travelled to London to film his first film, ‘Boots! Boots.’ Filmed in a studio above a garage on Albany Street. It took two weeks to film and cost £3,000 to make. Yet when they tried to sell it, nobody wanted to buy it. It wasn’t until they went to Burslem that the Formby effect was felt. Although it was a pretty awful picture, it caught the eye of the film director, Basil Deardon, who saw the people queuing around the block to watch the film. The key to its success was George. Charismatic, striking and a self-taught musician who lit up hearts and lives. He only played in one key but used a different ukulele for each song. A genius who was skating on thin ice if he picked up the wrong one. He wasn’t a natural star; the people made him one. A film that led to a seven-picture deal with Columbia and earned him an extra £500,000.
The War Icon
George joined ENSA during World War Two and entertained the troops throughout Europe and the Middle East. General Montgomery personally invited him to engage the frontline troops. His wife, Beryl, was always with him, and he was the first entertainer at Normandy after the invasion. George entertained over three million soldiers during the war, and the couple worked tirelessly to raise funds for war charities in the UK. As a result of his work, Formby received an OBE for his services. Beryl received nothing.
Later Years
After the war, George toured the world, and in 1951, he was given a part in the musical ‘Zip Goes A Million’. It was an instant success, but after a six-month run, George suffered a heart attack. He had to leave the show and spent 18 months recuperating. He then eased himself back into doing one-night pantomimes and summer shows. The key to his recovery time was spent in their home in Wroxham on the Norfolk Broads, sailing around the Broads on their boats, Lady Beryl I and Lady Beryl II, while appearing during the summer season in Great Yarmouth.
George made his last record, ‘Happy Go Lucky Me’ in 1960 and his last television appearance on ‘The Friday Night Show’ in December of the same year. In this BBC show, he admitted that Beryl was his driving force and couldn’t have done it without her. He couldn’t read or write correctly and couldn’t read music. His regret in life is that he didn’t have any children. Beryl died from leukaemia on Christmas Eve, 1960, when George was appearing in pantomime in Bristol.
Yet just after her funeral, Formby announced his engagement to Pat Howson, a 36-year-old school teacher. They planned a wedding for the early spring. However, George suffered another heart attack and, despite signs of a recovery, later died in
Preston’s St. Joseph’s Roman Catholic hospital on the 6 March 1961 at the age of 56. He was buried in Warrington Cemetery. At his funeral, an estimated 100,000 mourners lined the streets to say goodbye.
His Last Wishes
In his will, George left most of his estate to Pat. A wish that caused massive friction among the family. They contested the will. His solicitor decided to auction his estate in a marquee at his home in Fairhaven near Blackpool. An auction that lasted three days.One that sold off his prized instruments, cars and even his clothes. In an earlier will, George left £5,000 to his mother and £2,000 to each of his sisters. This was offered, but the family refused. The family fought the will until September 1965, when it was dismissed in Pat Howson’s favour.
