George Formby - "Leaning On A Lamp Post" - Douglas, Isle of Man
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Mike_bjm
N 54° 08.908 W 004° 28.835
30U E 403297 N 6001053
This statue of George Formby draws its inspiration from the song composed by Noel Gay and sung most famously by George Formby - "Leaning On A Lamp Post"
Waymark Code: WMXKWP
Location: Isle of Man
Date Posted: 01/26/2018
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This statue of George Formby draws its inspiration from the song composed by Noel Gay and sung most famously by George Formby - "Leaning On A Lamp Post"
The first verse is reproduced below:
"I'm leaning on a lamp, maybe you think, I look a tramp,
Or you may think I'm hanging 'round to steal a motor-car.
But no I'm not a crook, And if you think, that's what I look,
I'll tell you why I'm here, And what my motives are."
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This statue of George Formby clad in motorcycling leathers, leaning on a lamppost and with a Ukulele is on the corner of Ridgeway Street and Lord Street in Douglas.
George Formby, OBE was born George Hoy Booth on 26 May 1904 in Wigan, Lancashire, England, he was an Actor, singer-songwriter and comedian who became known to a worldwide audience through his films of the 1930's and 1940's.
On stage, screen and record he sang light,comical songs,usually playing the ukulele or banjolele, and this explains why the statue is holding a ukulele, it also explains why he is "leaning on a lamppost at the corner of the street" as this is a lyric from the Noel Gay song "Leaning on a Lamppost" which was recorded by George on 5th September 1937.
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The statue depicts George as his character 'George Shuttleworth" a Chimney-sweep who enters the Isle of Man TT races in George's 1935 film 'No Limits' which was made on location in the Isle of Man.
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