Frank Randle

I'll hang this post on here as on........

Saturday 9th July 2016 it will be the 10th FRANK RANDLE DAY in sunny Blackpool where a gathering of fans annually come together to celebrate and remember a Lancashire comic genius.

Day starts 12 mid day at Carelton Cemetery Blackpool visiting his grave
Into Blackpool sea front 1:15pm Albert and the Lion for lunch
Into the Pump and Truncheon opposite the market where Frank used to regularly drink
3:30pm onto the north pier for fans train ride and visiting the blue plaque etc.

A friendly and daft gathering we have been attending for 10 years now.

Gerroff me foot!
 
The Pump & Truncheon is nowhere near the market. It is close by the Central Police Station.(Hence the name) Nowt in the Blackpool Gazette so far this week. In Randle's time, the Pump & Truncheon was the' Brunswick'
 
What a wonderful idea. I never knew about it. I love Frank. I once saw a play called Randle's Scandals at the Grand theatre in Blackpool and Frank was portrayed by Keith Clifford who at one time was in Last of the Summer Wine and he was superb. I have several of Frank's films on dvd and love them. My favourite gag of his when he is the old rambler ' I'm 82...Id hav been 83 but me fatha wer shy.' In the play he was in the dock for the toilet roll stunt. He also demolished the front of the Central Pier in a car because of some dispute with the council. He had a run in with George Formby's wife too when his name was top of the bill at the Opera House and she thought George should have been.He was certainly a rebel but to me he was a comic genius even if he did 'sup some stuff.'
 
A good book to read for Frank fans is 'Wired to the Moon.' by Philip Martin Williams. It is available on Amazon
 
Interesting reading :-)

The day went off very well once again with the usual larking and Frank quotes throughout the day which are always enjoyable. Frank used to be a regular in The Pump & Truncheon renamed and we have archived stories as knew the owners family from way back who used to drink with him.

Anyone interested you will find a wealth of Franks films on DVD including
Holidays With Pay
It's a Grand Life
School For Randle
When you come home
Frank Randle Triple Bill (Somewhere on leave/Camp/Home Sweet Home)
Somewhere in England/Somewhere in Civvies (Double disc set rarer)

If you have never seen a Frank Randle film and fancy one I would recommend 'Holidays With Pay' as it also contains some great scenes filmed in a 1952 Blackpool also filmed from the air.

Happy days!
 
Glad the day went well Mr Pastry. Bet there were plenty of laughs as you cannot talk about Frank without a smile on your face. My favourite film is Somewhere on Leave. I love the bit where he tries going up the stairs when he's blind drunk and he asks the Venus like statue ' Hast e bin feighting love ?' I am delighted to hear he still has a loyal following he certainly deserves it.
 
Is there a Frank Randle Society, Mr Pastry ? I didn't see anything in the Blackpool Gazette about the day.
 
Hi Bob. We do in as much as it is very casual and does not involve paying a subscription just a small group of friendly people who help keep Franks lifes work alive and his comic genius. We meet once a year in July as near to the day he went on a permanent hike upstairs. We do sometimes meet towards Christmas to catch up at a suitable location. As next year will be the 60th anniversary of his passing it is quite likely we will be making more of Frank Randle Day possibly a film evening as well.;)
 
I will PM you, Mr Pastry - a pal of mine may well be interested in joining you. I rather fancy the film evening. The Regent Cinema in Blackpool has just re-opened - I'm sure the management will welcome you .
 
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