It might just turn out nice again for devout Formby fans

Mick Oxley is a happily married, financial adviser from Sheffield. He’s also a member of the George Formby Society and, at 56, one of its youngest recruits.

He signed up a couple of years ago after a chance conversation with a friend reignited happy memories of listening to his parents’ record collection as a child. At the time he could barely remember the words to When I’m Cleaning Windows and had no idea how to even hold a ukulele.

However, one Friday evening he found himself in the Worsborough Sports and Social Club where each month, as regular as clockwork, Formby fans gather to pay homage to the music hall star.

“My next door neighbour is a record collector and I’d been chatting to him about the music I used to listen to growing up,” says Mick.

“I mentioned how much my family had loved listening to George Formby. I guess I came over a little nostalgic and it was then he suggested I should get involved with the society.”

From that first meeting, Mick was hooked. He admits that when he tells people his involvement in the society has been life-changing, people gently question his sanity, but he says he’s more than happy to be outed as a Formby devotee.

“It’s just such a wonderful atmosphere when we meet up,” he says. “People get up, play a couple of songs. I’m not musical at all, but shortly after that first meeting I bought myself a cheap ukulele and I’ve now got three songs in my repertoire. If I can learn to play, than anyone can.

“It’s funny to think that some of his songs, including My Little Stick of Blackpool Rock were deemed too risque for broadcast and were banned by the BBC. Admittedly there’s a bit of double entendre, but mostly they are just a bit daft.

“They’re songs which bring a smile to your face and I guess in many ways they are a reminder of simpler times.”

Mick is not alone in his appreciation of Formby’s Lancastrian humour. Frank Skinner and Ken Dodd are both fans, as was the late George Harrison, and a branch of the appreciation society has recently opened in Afghanistan. However, with this year marking the 60th anniversary of the entertainer’s death it has been a chance to take stock and Mick hasn’t been the only one to notice that the average age of society members is on the rise.

“Most of the members are getting on a bit, so much so that I’m classed as one of the young-uns,” he says. “When one goes, there’s no one coming into replace them and if we don’t find a way to boost membership then in a few years there will be hardly any of us left at all. We need to let people know that we are here, so we can get the music of George Formby out to a much wider audience.”

The Sheffield branch, whose membership also happens to include Penistone’s Paul Casper, the UK’s number one George Formby impersonator, is not the only one facing the prospect of dwindling numbers. However, it seems there may be some good news on the horizon.

Sales of ukeleles are not only on the up, but the instrument is fast replacing the recorder as the favourite in schools.

According to figures released by the Musicroom, which has stores in both Leeds and York, in the last three months alone they have sold more this summer than the previous two years combined. Sales have risen by 69 per cent, largely thanks to a revival in ukelele playing by chart musicians.

“The increasing popularity of the ukulele is partly down to performers like Noah and the Whale, Jack Johnson and Mumford and Sons, who have all brought the instrument into the mainstream,” says Simon Pollard, Musicroom’s managing director. “They are fun, easy to play and affordable, which is a bit of a godsend to parents. We know from our staff in Edinburgh that a few primary schools up there have also added ukulele to their music syllabus as it’s more appealing to boys than the recorder.”

As Mick points out, the ukelele is also a little more pleasing on the ear.

“George Formby’s style of playing is quite tricky to master, but it’s not difficult to get a reasonable sound out a ukelele. People think that his music is only for people of a certain age, but that’s not true.

“I sometimes take my 12-year-old granddaughter along to the meetings and she thinks it’s hilarious.

“It’s just good clean fun and that’s something you don’t get an awful lot of these days.”

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The Sheffield branch meet on the last Friday of each month at Worsborough Sports & Social Club, from 7.30pm and for more details visit www.georgeformby.co.uk or call 0114 288 8199.