George Formby - Souvenir

George Formby was once the biggest name in UK entertainment. People couldn’t get enough of his cheeky double-entendre laden, thirties hot jazz-influenced songs, interspersed with banjolele axe-wielding, and sung in his Wigan accent. They were so well known they were seemingly woven into the fabric of society when I was growing up. I’ve been a fan since I had a Formby re-awakening in the 00’s.

His use of words is skilful and clever, despite the songs being of an age, and being frequently filthy. The Window Cleaner was banned by the BBC.

Formby essentially gave up his career at its peak to join ENSA, the military wing of the entertainment industry, so that he could help fight fascism. He would encourage the enlisted men to take up the seats at the front reserved for the officers and their wives.

In 1946, he and his wife/manager Beryl were given a ticker-tape welcome to South Africa. George then refused to play for segregated audiences and (shock, horror!) hugged a black child. The Prime Minster of South Africa, D.F. Malan, phoned Beryl to complain and was told to piss off. They were deported.

He was a good ‘un.

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