George Formby

George Formby entertaining British troops in northwest Europe in 1944

George Formby OBE (born George Hoy Booth; 26 May 1904 – 6 March 1961) was an English actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930s and 1940s. On stage, screen and record he sang light, comic songs, usually playing the ukulele or banjolele, and became the UK's highest-paid entertainer.

Quotes

• Ever since the days of old the Navy's ruled the waves.
  For years they've told the world that Britain's never shall be slaves.
  The Navy still remembers and you'll often hear them say
  What Nelson told Napoleon upon Trafalgar day:

  "It serves you right, you shouldn't have joined, it jolly well serves you right.
  It serves you right, you shouldn't have joined, you might have been sitting tight
  You might have been in Civvy Street instead of in the fight
  But it serves you right, you shouldn't have joined, it jolly well serves you right"

  • "It Serves Me Right", Bell-Bottom George (1943); the song credit is to Box/Cox/Formby.