Formby family snap up statue of Uncle George
News Reporter
SPANDAU Ballet singer Tony Hadley helped a radio listener strike Gold after he lost out on a big-money prize when station bosses said he mispronounced the star’s name.
Muhammad Shalehan was taking part in a quiz in which he had to identify 14 celebrity voices.
In return, he was set to pocket a £5,750 cash prize.
The Singapore railway worker, 32, thought he had managed to name them all.
The station claimed he had mispronounced the British pop legend’s name and so lost out on the cash.
Father of three Muhammad then set about contacting the singer for help in order to set the record straight and convince the radio station that he deserved the cash prize.
In a message he sent to Tony via his management, he said: “A normal citizen from Singapore needs your help dear Mr Tony Hadley.”
And he was delighted when the star, whose hits include True, sent a message from his
THINGS turned out nice again for George Formby’s family after they bought a life-size statue of the star.
The actor and comedian’s niece Pamela Bailey snapped up the £420 statue of George playing his trademark banjo ukulele at an auction.
But the family lost out on a ukulele he played in the 1935 film Off The Dole, which sold for £11,000.
Pamela, whose mother was George’s sister, and her son Michael were among online bidders at Hansons Auctioneers.
It was the largest sale of the star’s memorabilia since his death at 56 in 1961.
Michael said of the statue: “George Formby Junior will now appear at all future family gatherings. We
Steph Spyro
wanted to bid on the ukuleles but the prices go up and up.
“We want our children and grandchildren to know they’re related to one of the UK’s greatest and at one time best-paid entertainers, as well as to George Formby senior, our great grandfather, who was a star in his own right too.”
Jim Spencer of Derby-based Hansons said he was delighted George’s family was reunited with some of his archive.
Wigan-born George was famous for his films in the 1930s and 40s, including 1941 comedy Turned Out Nice Again.