Dave Downes

This Ukulele Kills Fascists!


When George Formby went to Apartheid era South Africa in mid-August 1946, he could not understand why he was playing only to white audiences, he decided to refuse to play to racially segregated audiences, and went to the townships to play to the black populations in their own villages. They loved him for this, cheering him on. The National party leader at the time Daniel Malan berated him, eventually expelling Formby from the country. Beryl Formby, George's formidable partner, told Malan "Why don't you piss off, you horrible little man".


What bound Formby with the people is that through his songs, there is a sense of community, solidarity, sauce and taking the piss - laughter can be a powerful weapon. He sang for the people and ordinary people were his lifeblood. In his films (over 20 blockbusters) he nearly always played the underdog, who succeeded in the end - the stereotypical toffs, are seen as bad tempered, idiotic, bullying, and small minded.


During the Second World War he reached out to the troops and fought the Nazis on a propaganda front - the British forces loved him, he was one of their own. George Formby - one man and ukelele anti-fascist machine.

People knew, that the British ruling classes and the aristocracy had supported Hitler prior to the war, they could also see with their own eyes that the rich had largely abandoned our cities, leaving working class communities to bear the brunt of incessant bombing (at least 4,000 of the wealthiest individuals, boarded luxury ships and fucked off to the States for the duration) - hence, the sweeping aside of the old-order following the conflict. It was the ordinary man and woman who had had to fight and pay the highest price. George, spoke directly to them with humour, and warmth - always encouraging people to pull together and fight on, with a smile.