Forshaw Follies

 

Forshaw Follies were annual event at the end of the year before the Christmas break at Tulketh.

A bit of a gang show/come talent show organised by Head of Fylde House, Mr. Forshaw, who usually compered the show with some style. Usually, the show took place on the final morning before the Christmas break.

In my time at Tulketh I took part in the show in 1976 and then again in 1979. In the 1976 show I was part of a football quiz act of 20 questions put to me by then P.E teacher Mr. Wilson.  A great experience!

By 1979 football had took a bit of back seat in my leisure time. And by now I had become more interested in music. The interest being in the 1950’s revival music scene of the mid-to late 1970’s there had been plethora of Rock n roll retro- groups of the like of Showaddywaddy, Darts, Rocky Sharpe and the Replays, and Matchbox in the music charts of the day. In fact any spending money I had went on buying original Rock n Roll albums from Elvis Presley to Eddie Cochran.  Dennis Winder and I used to go to the Preston Rock n roll society club which was in the Maudland Labour Club on Sunday nights during our last year at Tulketh and after leaving as well. The music and atmosphere in the Club was great.   

Added to this, were Fifties inspired American imported television shows like Happy Days along with Grease the successful Broadway musical which transferred to movie screens to become a worldwide box office success. It made stars of John Travolta and Olivia Newton John 

Along with fellow rock n roll enthusiasts in John Ismay and Dennis Winder we swallowed up anything which resembled the fashion and music of the period. Mr. Wilson, (Geography) had kindly given Dennis Winder a copy of the That'll Be the Day film music soundtrack from 1973 starring David Essex, Billy Fury, Keith Moon and Ringo Starr.  This double album contained many original Rock n roll tunes from the 50’s and 60’s.  

As the end of year Forshaw Follies approached Dennis and John who both were not bad singers came up with the idea of putting together a routine for the show of a couple songs which would lip synched to, with a couple of dance moves as well.

Mr. Forshaw had been approached about the idea and suggested we run through our paces at the rehearsal on the Wednesday lunch time before the Friday morning show.    

The three us turned up on Wednesday lunch time for the rehearsals. My contribution would be some backing vocals along with the dancing. Also, I came up with the name of the ensemble as Steve and the Gamblers. It’s just something which had come into my mind when asked by Mr. Forshaw.

In the rehearsal we practised the two numbers which were Move It, originally Cliff Richard and the Shadows hit, with lip synched vocals by John Ismay followed by Eddie Cochran’s, hit C’mon Everybody, with vocals by Dennis Winder. The Stage manager/ sound technician Mr. Yates operating the small record deck at the side of the stage which is plugged in to school’s PA system.

To be fair we were no great shakes, but Mr. Forshaw, watched from the back of the hall and said he would let us open the show. 

On the day of the show, I packed my crepe soled shoes, coloured ankle socks, drainpipe trousers with a gold-coloured shirt packed into my sports bag normally used for P.E or Games. When I arrived at school john and Dennis had similar garb to change into. The school bell rang and off we went to registration.  After registration, the three of us met up in the boys changing rooms prior to performance. The changing rooms were hive of activity with other performers their getting ready and rehearsing.

Mr. Taylor came in to tell us we would be on in 5 minutes and should make our way up to the side of the stage or the wings as he rightly put it in theatrical terms.

When we got up their surprisingly, we were not nervous. Mr. Forshaw wished us luck and he went on to do an introduction to the show. As the curtain opened, we made our way on to the stage with a generous ovation from the kids and teachers a like.  Mr. Forshaw introduced and the famous Hank Marvin Lead guitarist of Cliff Richard and the Shadows, opening guitar chords to Move It, blasted through the school’s PA system much to Mr. Yates chagrin which was suddenly remedied by a yanking of a few buttons and a less ear-splitting music came through John Ismay lip synched his way through two and half minute classic with Dennis and I doing some choregraphed moves which we borrowed from watching Showaddywaddy on Top of the Pops.

 When it came to Dennis Winder singing along to the Eddie Cochran’s C’mon Everybody, I attempted to do a back flip which I struggled to get up from nearly bringing one of the curtains down at the side of stage down. Fortunately, I regained my composure to carry on like nothing had happened. As the music faded out, we got a round of applause with quite a bit of laughter thrown in from some of the kids in the audience.

Off we went to get changed after a pat on the back from Mr. Forshaw and Mr. Yates who commented to me how close a shave I had with the curtains as he handed the records back to Dennis Winder. He lamented on the choice of music we picked saying that it was not a patch on Frank Sinatra. He then carried on watching over Tchaikovsky Nutcracker Suite playing on the turntable to one of the second-year girls doing a ballet routine across the stage with Mrs. Pearson coaching her from the wings of the stage.

We got changed had a couple of snacks and drinks which had been laid on in the changing rooms by one of the teachers from Home Economics. Then Mr. Taylor seen us out into the yard just before break. As all the kids came out for morning  break  we got a few comments especially from our peer group like John Hutchinson who was Head boy in Fylde House and a bit of a comedian. He commented on our wooden almost pantomime performance we gave and would live long in his memory.

Like most things which happen in our school lives it was soon forgotten.  The following year we in the 5^th year were about to leave the school and make our way in the world.  

When I got married for the second time in 1997 my best man Darren Plumb who also attended Tulketh mentioned my appearance In Forshaw Follies much to the amusement of the attendees