But reputations count for nothing at the Cobbles Inn, Kelso, in Scotland, where some folk club members have taken offence at the lyrics of some of his songs performed by Formby enthusiast Roger Platfoot, complaining that a few of his songs are "racist".

Today George was defended by the Wigan-based George Formby Society.
Vice-president Neil Forshaw said: "No way was George racist. He and his wife Beryl went out of their way to perform to black people in South Africa at a time when apartheid was growing. Beryl picked up a black child and kissed him, and for that they were thrown out of the country.

"The words that are being complained about certainly wouldn't be used in songs these days and they appear in songs which are very rarely performed. At the time they were written – and on many occasions George didn't write the songs himself even if his name appeared on it for royalties version – such terms were, for better or for worse, generally accepted."

Mr Platfoot's faultless renditions of some of George's lesser-known songs, such as I'm The Husband Of The Wife Of Mr Wu and Wunga Bunga Boo, have caused upset because they make fun of "Zulus" and use terms such as "Chink" for a Chinese person.

Keith and Cate Ryan said in a letter to their local newspaper that they had twice complained about the lyrics, but their grievances had been dismissed out of hand.

Mr Ryan said: "At the time of the 40th anniversary of Enoch Powell's 'Rivers of Blood' speech, we were shocked by the acceptance of racist songs being sung at the sessions.

"There should be zero tolerance. We felt saddened that this racism happens in Kelso and is considered acceptable. What next? Songs about the disabled, gays or some other easy-to-target group?"

But singer Mr Platfoot also defended Formby's songs: "They're certainly not racist. All the stuff I play has been widely published, is on record and is a reflection of what was done at the time. The songs go down very well with others at the club."

Kelso folk club's chairman, Dave Kilpatrick, said: "They are not to everyone's taste, but the racist language was innocent, the songs sketching slightly risqué ethnic caricatures in a humorous and affectionate manner.

"If we ever have to ban non-PC songs, 200 years of repertoire would be decimated, along with very many Border ballads."