12th March 2023 will mark what would have been Billy 'Uke' Scott's 100th Birthday. Here is a rarely seen clip of Billy performing with his trusty Abbott Monarch Banjo Ukulele at the Sale Branch of the George Formby Society in 1988.
William Scott was born in Sunderland on March 12th 1923. He made his first stage debut at the age of 13 at the Empire theatre, Newcastle.
During the second world war, Billy worked for ENSA and established himself as a versatile artist.
He featured in 2 films and made countless radio broadcasts. Billy was in demand with a busy schedule in variety and pantomime, support acts such as Max Miller, Gracie Fields, Will Hay and Tommy Trinder.
His preferred choice of instrument was the traditional wooden ukulele because of its sweet sound, rather than the more strident banjolele favoured by George Formby - though he played both.