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GB FANS© is a group of fans who decided it
was about time that the Gary Barlow fans around the World got together
for a bit of fun and to make new friends.
Helen and Jan Berrington, together with their
friend Julia Wharton decided to form GB FANS back in November 1997.
They were discussing how good it would be if the many Gary fans
around the World had a “social group” who could organise
different events to actually get fans to meet up, or contact each
other through a Newsletter and thought, "why don't we do it!"
Helen and Jan were organising
the GBIS
Petition for members of Gary’s previous Fan Club, which
had been closed by Gary back in April 1997. The fans were left high
and dry with no-where to go, so Helen and Jan decided to start the
Petition to see if it would help Gary to get the database from the
previous Fan Club.
The new Fan Club was formed
in November 1997 but still the database had not been handed over.
Julia Wharton the administrator on the Gary Barlow Website (then
called GBAP) offered her help in publicising the Petition on the
GBAP/GBDL Website. This was a great success and the Petition ended
up with 114 members found. However, there was still the problem
that fans had no-one who was really looking after their interests
and to whom they could turn.
Helen and Jan mentioned to
Julia how touched they were by all the letters they had received
from fans whilst doing the Petition, fans were really desperate
but had no-one to turn to. This was when Helen, Jan and Julia decided
it was about time that the fans did something themselves to unite
all Gary’s fans and at the same time make new friends and have
a lot of fun. From this GB FANS was born.
GB FANS is dedicated to the
many Gary fans around the World. Our aim is to organise events in
the form of Conventions, Dinners, Parties, Days Out, Weekends away,
concessionary travel to concerts etc and also be a place where fans
can come if they have a problem which needs resolving. GB FANS is
a totally non-profit independent group. We are a group run by fans
for fans and will always put the interests of fans first because
we ourselves are fans.
Initially GB FANS intended
to build up from their base in the UK with an 8 month plan to begin
work in other countries by the use of Co-Ordinators. However, word
got round very quickly and the idea took off in a big way and there
are now Co-Ordinators in a number of countries around the World.
Our aim is to keep building on the success so far, but take a more
professional approach to recruitment and to standardise procedures
by which we work.
On 8th January 1998 "GB
FANS - The Website" was first revealed on the internet, designed
by Julia and maintained by all three of it's founders. The picture
below captures what the orginal website looked like.
Once again, history is changing
and GB FANS have not only moved internet address but have also merged
with the Gary Barlow Website, we now provide not only get togethers,
dinners and events, but plenty of Gary information too, what more
could you ask for!
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We
have plenty of our own GB FANS merchandising for
sale. Check it out and put your orders in for
the brand new up and coming 2000 calendar plus
lots more!
There
are many things going on in and around the GB
FANS world. Check out our
