GEORGE FORMBY STATUE

Went in the Grand Arcade yesterday and noticed that a little area on the right just before Debenhams had opened so went in to have a nosey. Could'nt believe that the statue of what looked like a little old man was actually George Formby I would hardly have recognised him but for his banjo.Why bother to have a statue of him at all if it is going to be hidden a way he should be placed in the middle of the arcade where everyone can see him he should come back and haunt those responsible.

i've not seen it yet but isn't it close to the penningtons building which is going to be developed.

The statue is covered in the pics> events:

Clickety

That's where your Poll tax money is being spent, why didn't they give the money to buy some new apperatus for wigan infirmary instead of some stupid statue

Don't know who it's supposed too look like but it ain't George Formby,i wanted a good statue of George in the middle of Wigan not a bad one hidden away,what a waste of time and money.

PS. But what do expect from the powers that be in Wigan.

I should imagine the statue to have been paid for by the Arcade, Dave.

He looks more like The Joker from the Batman Movie.

I went to see the statue last weekend didn't like it but must say the pie and butties were aw-reet an't glass o` wine


Veteran

freebies?????and i missed out??

Tonker, if that is the case I stand corrected

"That's where your Poll tax money is being spent, why didn't they give the money to buy some new apperatus for wigan infirmary instead of some stupid statue"

The council gave 12K - it could have been spent better i think.

What can you expect from a council of idiot's that rule our town

Regarding statues in Wigan,Some people dont like the idea of the one of George Formby but some do,I have been told that the one in Mesnes Park of Francis Sharpe Powell MP for Wigan was built by council money,But this person voted against the education bill when in parliament and he was quoted as saying "if we educate the working classes they will end up educating us" as anyone on Wigan World heard this?is it true?if it is true then this particular statue should be taken down.

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had a look and its nothing like him at all,like antontrip says...like the joker

There's plenty joker's in wigan

I was talking about the less well known Batman movie that stared George Formby.

I too went to see George Formby when up in Wigan last week end. From what I have been told Andrew Lloyd Weber and Eric Clapton actually donated money towards the statue. Being slightly whimsy here but could it be that George has been placed there as a link between the old and new - The new Grand Arcade and the older parts of Wigan yet to be developed. If you step outside just past George and round the corner you can see Roman artefacts of a hypercaust probably 2nd Century found during the development and moved so visitors can see them.
Be proud of Wigan and what it stands for!! It really is an old town ancient and loyal.I now live in a town in Bedfordshire which is dying day by day and no decent shops want to be here.

Should be on show for all to see the mans a legend

its horrable and scary

GEORGE FORMBY AT IS BEST

george formby

Should be on show for all to see i agree the mans a legend,but why hide him in the arcade would it not be better to to put him in a more central position.

It should be placed outside the grand arcade,cause he was a grand chap,the funniest man to come out of wigan.

Now i can see where all the comes from in wiganI always thought he was from Blackpoola great entertainer of his generation Should a statue not be in a more central area in the town.

Is he buried in Warrington though?

Coccium .... referring to the statue of 'Francis Sharpe Powell MP' in Mesnes Park, I should imagine it is a fitting statue to be displayed in a Conservative town like Wigan.

kittenimp .... George Formby is buried in Warrington. He lived in Stockton Heath from an early age. But, he was born in Wigan and that's where his statue should be. Whether Wigan or Warrington, he always claimed to be a 'Lancashire Lad'.

truckerdave .... I agree entirely with you, that the money would be better spent on some new apperatus for Wigan Infirmary.

And, on saying that, how much does it cost to transport a 'flame', around the world, in a miners lamp, in aid of the bloody olympic games?
Think what that money could be better spent on!


George Formby Statue .... including a list of those who donated to the fund.

I heard to-day that the statue is to be moved shortley to just inside the entrance of the Grand Arcade. Don't know if it's true or not.Has any body else heard anything?

George Formby was in Manchester, I think at the Palace in December 1940.
After his show finished he came along to Wellington Barracks in Bury and gave an impromptu concert in the Gymnasium.
He was not on the stage but just sat on a chair in the corner of the gym with a numbber of us sat in a semicircle enjoying his performance which lasted best part of an hour. We all enjoyed it very much.That was the only time I saw him in person. Films yes and he was funny.

Must be difficult to capture a true likness in a sculpture but I think it's okay. George made some really comical films.
Coccium - the statue of Sir Francis Sharpe Powell, I believe, was paid for by public subscription. He donated the Powell childrens library (presumably to help educate children) which used to be at the bottom of Station Road. Bet lots of people remember going there.

Though to young to actually remember George Formby live, he was the highest paid British entertainer before,and during the second world war equaling some of the great hollywood stars of the time.
Not bad for banjole playing buffoon with catch phrases like"Oooh Motheer" ,"He never touched me"and "Can you hear me mother"

I have 31 George Formby songs which I can e-mail to anyone who wants them. Will post my e-mail address if anyone is interested.

I think we should leave it at that 31 of his songs,Des O'Connor eat yer heart out! JOKE!

No wonder they stuck that hideous thing out of sight! Its nothing like him! I agree with wigan he does look like the joker.
Can they not get owt reet?

I agree the statue is not brilliant, it looks like an older George Formby. It is hard to capture his facial expressions and his character in a statue. Maybe it would have been better to do a 'live' memorial to him, something that could have replayed some of his music and some film footage showing him at his best. Let's fact it without being too unkind, he wouldn't have Brad Pitt worried if he was around these days.

Opposite the statue, I noticed last week,that there is a teashop and tables had been placed outside, on the millgate entrance to the arcade. Regarding George Formby, don't forget some of his time was during the war years - life wasn't always good and his simple comedy/films made people laugh THEN.It was a different era so lets not be too critical and compare then to now.

Ozzielass says ... 'it looks like an older George Formby...'

Maybe that's what it's meant to be, George Formby Senior. After all, he was the 'true' Wigan performer, not his son who grew up and started his performing career in Warrington.

Ozzielass, you say its hard to capture likeness, well I suggest you look at others like Winston Churchill, Bobby Moore etc they are good likeness

terrymac28,
"Can you hear me mother" was a catchphrase used by Sandy Powell,not George Formby.