Other Window Cleaning News & Videos

The BBC are actively looking for window cleaners. The hit BBC quiz show is back for the 10th series & is looking for fun teams of 6 to take on their resident General Knowledge Goliaths! If you and your family, friends or colleagues would like to challenge ‘the Eggheads’, and possibly win BIG MONEY for an application online go here. Alternatively you can email oliver.sutton@12yard.com

Happy Birthday Joe at Water Fed Pole Training Academy. Here's a video that he posted today - great find & very funny. See some of the other stuff from Popmash.

It was also fun to watch Alex check out the window cleaning equipment from the UK that are not so common over in America. They will be stocking them in the SHOP very shortly.

Window Cleaning Songs

I thought I'd add these video's as it's a Sunday & you might get something out of them. Up first, a video about a window cleaning cowboy - yes really! A nice acapella style & really quite enjoyable.

Next up, Terry "Turbo" Burrows, champion window cleaner from London sings about the congestion charge under Ken Livingstons reign as Mayor of London. Its quite a rare'n this. Played to George Formbys hit "when I'm cleaning windows." Terry is also a black belt in karate (Koodokan). He claims that the karate has made him faster and more determined with his window cleaning competitions and record attempts. Other hobbies include scuba diving (since 15 years of age), fishing, snooker (highest break 85 so far) and playing guitar. And, yes, he even performs "When I'm Cleaning Windows"!

The late Peter Sellers gives his performance of George Formby's "when I'm cleaning windows." I've added this video for novelty value more than anything else. Peter was a huge Monty Python fan, a rare window cleaning song by the Python team can be seen here.

Most of you won't have heard this before its featured on Rock FM 97.4 in Leeds, UK by poet, singer song writer Mik Artistic. Quite catchy never the less.

The Mills Brothers were a major African-American jazz and pop vocal quartet of the 20th century producing more than 2,000 recordings that sold more than 50 million copies and garnered at least three dozen gold records. The group was originally composed of four brothers all born in Piqua, Ohio.

I'll leave you to pass judgement on the next offering. Window cleaning operatics: Not my cuppa tea...

Finally a different kind of windows song, enjoy...

George Formby Was No Good at Cleaning Windows

Historical texts have proven that Ukulele player George Formby was not a good window cleaner. Contemporary reports from the time revealed that the comedy maverick was often tardy, left his ladders all over the place, used the same water for days, and did not clean around the edges of the window. PC Plod said: 'We had many complaints about Formby back in the day. His employer often said he was a wrong'un, but these details speak for themselves. A Mrs Smith from 57 complained that Formby left his ladder in her backyard for four days, whilst a Mr Benn from 52 Festive Road often complained about the state of George's bucket. PC Plod continued: 'We also had many reports that he was loitering with intent, but he just sang us a song about Leaning on a Lampost, until a certain little lady comes by. He was a charmer, but we could tell he was not meant to be a Window cleaner, or a stalker.' OY - Formby, you missed a spot.

He was born George Hoy Booth on 26 May 1904 in Wigan, Lancashire. The show business career of George Formby spanned exactly FORTY YEARS, beginning in 1921 until his death in 1961. During that period he appeared in 21 hit films, cut over 230 records, made hundreds of stage performances, appeared in two Royal Command Performances and entertained an estimated THREE MILLION Allied Servicemen and women during World War II throughout Europe (see video in Normandy below) and the Middle East. Although he never performed in the U.S.A. he did make personal appearances and was quite popular in Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.
By 1939, George Formby was the most popular and highest paid entertainer in the British Isles and was estimated to be earning over £100,000 a year. The secret of his success was a unique combination of personality, natural ability and talent coupled with the driving force of his wife, Beryl as his Manager. With his natural human warmth and friendliness, George could hold a live audience in the palm of his hand as he sang and played the ukulele in his own inimitable style. He seemed to have the ability to make people enjoy what he did, and his audiences always called for more. George Formby helped write and perform over 300 original songs, largely flavoured with his own brand of English North Country humour. He was well known for playing the Banjo Ukulele, a hybrid instrument combining the Hawaiian ukulele and the big American Banjo, which had been invented by Alvin D. Keech and christened by him as the 'Banjulele.' He was buried in Warrington Cemetery in the family grave, and an estimated 100,000 mourners lined the streets on the day of the funeral to show their respect for one of the greatest entertainers this country has ever known.