Beryl
Formby (1901 to 25th December 1960)
George Formby was one of the biggest
film stars in British history but he'd never have made it without his battle-axe
wife Beryl. Here I am at “Beryledene” on the inner
promenade at Lytham where she died; also at the nearby crematorium where she
was cremated. After she died George confessed she’d made his life hell but he
didn’t last long without her and died of a heart attack just eight weeks later.
Beryl wasn’t always his no-nonsense manager and
was in show business herself originally - one half of the Two Violet dancers
with her sister May. She met George in 1923 when he was beginning to make a
name for himself as a comedian. They married soon after in September 1924.
Beryl was an on-stage partner with George for about 9 years before stepping out
of the limelight to become his manager. Manage she did - she didn’t mind
offending people and was a ruthless negotiator where fees were concerned. She masterminded
George’s meteoric rise to fame and glorious riches. George wasn’t as gormless
as the parts he played in films but he wasn’t far off: there was little to his personality and he couldn’t
read or write well. Beryl would have had to teach him an entire film script,
line by line and be on set with him. He wouldn’t - couldn’t - go through the
script with actors as he couldn’t read properly. It was the same with the
songs. Though a wizard with the ukelele he wasn’t
good with scripts and songs on paper. He’d use certain ukeleles
for certain songs with “HI’ or ‘LOW’ notes written on them. Wherever George
went Beryl went too - even to the front lines when they toured extensively with
ENSA to entertain troops during the Second World War. George was awarded the
OBE for this work and was upset that Beryl received no recognition.
You have to lavish this woman with credit. George
could barely cope without her guiding him through the practicalities of the
day. Even though she’s usually cast as a harridan she was devoted to him and
committed to lifting him to the top. Through the 1930s and 40s this working
class hero was demanding what equates to £1.4 million/year today thanks to Beryl’s
hard-nosed negotiating. She was the best manager George could have and took
confrontation on the chin on his behalf, ensuring his innocent image remained
intact (the Queen loved him so much she almost became the President of the
George Formby Appreciation Society.) If George didn’t like an actor he’d
complain to Beryl and they were soon gone. He often said he couldn’t buy a
round of drinks because “Beryl only gives me five shillings pocket money a day”
but he was tight-fisted. She did keep him on a tight leash though - no mixing
with the leading actresses, no kissing in the films, no socialising with the
ladies, no going out for long on his own. Beryl took the blows and wintry looks
while protecting George’s unblemished reputation.
Their complex relationship was full of love,
devotion and frustration. If George couldn’t stand it any longer he could have
divorced Beryl at any time and still remained a rich man. He was the UK’s
highest paid performer for years commanding £35,000 per performance even then.
There weren’t any children to worry about. They remained married for 36 years.
Perhaps he knew he owed her everything.
In the 1950's George’s star lost some of its
sparkle. He became depressed and was addicted to morphine prescribed for his
heart condition. Beryl was diagnosed with cancer and became slightly alcoholic.
The end of the golden days end was brewing. I’m stood outside their last home where
Beryl died of leukaemia on Christmas Day 1960 aged 59 (probably in the upstairs
front bedroom.) George wasn’t there. He was in Bristol performing in Aladdin
when he took a call from Beryl’s doctor saying she was in a coma and didn’t
have long. Two hours later he went ahead with the performance and was told on
Boxing Day that Beryl had died.
Here I am at the
pretty Lytham Cemetery where Beryl was cremated only two days after her death on Tuesday 27th December 1960. Afterwards
George returned to Bristol to appear in that
matinee performance of Aladdin (continuing to do so for about three
weeks.) Cruelly he betrayed Beryl’s memory twice: (1) saying publically that they
hadn’t lived as husband and wife for years as she made him miserable and (2)
announcing his engagement to school teacher Pat Howson
just seven weeks after Beryl’s death (she was 20 years his junior.) Perhaps a disdained
Beryl – who had turned George from amateur performer to a music-hall genius -
was looking down on events as George died of a heart attack three weeks after
the announcement. Beryl’s ashes were scattered in the rose garden. She’d gone a
long way from clog dancer to star maker.
Beryl died here on Christmas Day 1960…
At the crematorium where Beryl was cremated and her
ashes were scattered…
The memorial plaque behind the
crematorium...
