If you would like to add your favourite Formby memories to Pride Of Manchester, CONTACT GERRY GEORGE

[Also see GEORGE FORMBY TO ME by Gerry George]

[Also see MANCUNIAN FILM MEMORIES by Gerry George]

I have a ukulele
And taught myself to play.
I tuned it to the dial tone
In the key of A.

I followed the instructions
From audiotape and book
And practised in the mirror,
to get that Formby look.

I practise every morning.
I practise every night.
After all these sessions
My playing is alright.

Now I bring my uke to parties,
And wear a vintage frock.
I sing nineteen thirties pop tunes
To see the soiree rock.

I tried my hand at music
Without the fear I'd fail.
It gives me so much pleasure
To hear that ukulele wail!

Just 'cause school's behind me
The learning is not done.
I play my ukulele
For syncopated fun!

Steam was coming out of danceband king Jack Hylton's ears, when his vocalist ducked a recording session of 'The Old Kitchen Kettle', and left him stewing on the backburner...but George Formby stepped in, to get him out of hot water.

It was 1932, and a relatively unknown Formby 'ghosted' the vocal refrain, for which - despite his later fame - he never received a credit on the Decca label.

Beryl recounted this to me, during one of several meetings I had with her, around Easter 1959, when I was researching George's biography for an intended 'This Is Your Life' programme, for Shirley McNab, of the BBC.

She said that George and her were visiting Decca's Vauxhall Bridge Road, headquarters, to arrange some recording dates, when they bumped into Jack Hylton - literally - as he was rushing out of the same sessions studio door, that they were on the point of entering.

"He was hopping mad, and pretty near to blowing a gasket about being left in the lurch, without a singer, so I leapt in, and said: 'Oh my George can do that'", Beryl, gleamed, triumphantly. "And George didn't mind: he just went ahead and sung the refrain, without his ukulele.

"We never counted it as a 'Formby' number", mused Beryl, "because George did it, just as a bit of fun, and that's how we look back on it.

"To be perfectly truthful, George and I forgot all about it, but Jack Hilton obviously didn't, and all three of us have been the best of pals ever since."

Formby's elegant and imperious 'first lady', Beryl, was prone to be met - during the Forties and Fifties - doing her favourite 'thing'...shopping in Manchester's Saint Anne's Square, and adjacent King Street: She loved it!

Travelling incognito, she also enjoyed taking coffee, at the Kardomah Cafe: either the one in Saint Anne's Square, or the other, half-way up Market Street (which I regret to say, now appears to have been replaced by a MacDonald franchise).

The power behind the Formby throne, she dressed like a Fylde Coast dowager, and loved to supplement her extensive wardrobe - of sable wraps, full-length ranch mink furs, and stoles, peacock feathered hats, belted Cashmere coats, and elegantly tailored fitted costumes, and cocktails dresses - visiting elite shops, such as Marshall and Snelgrove, in the famous square, and was often to be seen, shopping in the then exclusive Kendal Milne, department store, on Deansgate.

When she died, on Christmas Day, 1960, Beryl left more than £35,000, in platignum, and gold-mounted diamond rings and custom-made Cartier jewellery, in addition to a massive wardrobe, and shoe collection - plus a range of the most expensive French perfumes - the envy of any royal.

But, she treated herself frequently, because she felt - as they say, in the modern television commercial - she was 'worth it'...and, by George, she was!