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Brian Epstein Statue Project

27/8/2022

27th August, 2022 WE DID IT.

The Brian Epstein Statue Project Committee.

THE TEAM

Tom Calderbank – Project Manager
Bill Elms – Chair
Larry Sidorczuk – Treasurer
Members; Julie Roach, Kevin Roach, Kim Laycock, Marie Darwin, Robert Roach and Ralph Kluseman (Iowa Rock ‘n’ Roll Hall of Fame & Museum).

The team behind the project has a wealth of collective experience in the fields of public arts, publishing, theatre production and the local Beatles industry.
United in our desire to see this project happen.

A big thank you to everyone who supported THE BRIAN EPSTEIN STATUE APPEAL.
YOU DID IT!

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Plaque for Brian Epstein: 4 Rodney Street, Liverpool

1/9/2019

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BRIAN EPSTEIN (19 September 1934 – 27 August 1967)

On September 19, 1934 Brian Samuel Epstein was born at 4 Rodney Street, Liverpool.

Brian Epstein for many fans was a visionary, he had a vision for four lads from Liverpool as well as many other musicians at the time; Cilla, Gerry and the Pacemakers, Fourmost, Bill J Kramer and the Dakotas and many more. Around the city of Liverpool and the world there are accolades to these musicians but there has never been an official plaque for Brian in the City of Liverpool. We recognised that there should be something out of respect. Brian's image was key, and that is the image he sold to the world for The Beatles. The Beatles' early success has been attributed to Epstein's management style, business and organisation skills and the band trusted him without hesitation.

We are a group of friends who are made up of Beatles Tour guides, Historians and Authors who meet as 'The Beatles Book Club'. We have been led and driven by Marie Darwin who has selflessly worked hard for the past two years to have a plaque in Liverpool to honour Brian Epstein's birth place.

Beatles fan and qualified tour guide, Marie Darwin, organised the memorial and successfully earned support from Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool City Council to gain planning permission for the memorial to honour Epstein, who died in 1967 aged 32.

Marie says "while I was the organiser of the plaque, I couldn't have done it alone" as individuals we all played a part, from raising funds, marketing to supporting Marie. Matthew & Elaine Price owners of CUTHBERTS BAKE HOUSE, 103 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool, stayed open late to allow the book group to have their meetings at the bake house, and on 22nd February 2015 opened their doors to over 50+ guest to continue with the celebrations after the unveiling ceremony and provided an amazing buffet which included the cities traditional 'SCOUSE' with beetroot. The plaque was designed and made by FRED O'BRIEN is now firmly fixed to 4 Rodney Street, for all fans, tourist and the people of Liverpool to see.

THE PLAQUE WAS UNVEILED BY VIV JONES AND JENI CROWLEY, WHO BOTH WORKED FOR BRIAN EPSTEIN IN NEMS, LONDON. One of the special guest who joined us on the day to celebrate was JULIA BAIRD, Sister of John Lennon and MARIE DARWIN who for the past 2 years has worked very hard to make this happen and a big THANK YOU to the team.

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August 22nd, 2018

22/8/2018

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BRIAN EPSTEIN & THE BEATLES 1964: THE YEAR THAT CHANGED THE WORLD.

7/6/2018

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click here to order

The Slide Show is just a little snap shoot.

A BIG THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO HAS SUPPORTED THE EPSTEIN STATUE APPEAL.

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Ringo Starr - Don't Pass Me By- New book available Now.

3/3/2018

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New book available NOW.

A Big Thank You To All Who Pre-Ordered The New Book About Ringo Starr.

All books will be dispatched after the Bank Holiday in the UK, from Tuesday 28th August 2018.

This is the long awaited fourth book in the series by Kevin Roach.

Following on from the other three books, which have been well received by Beatles fans around the world, this book will not disappoint.

Product Details = Paperback
Size = 210mm x210mm
Pages = 112

Order Here

Richard Starkey was born on 7th July 1940, the only child of Richard and Elsie, who where living at 9 Madryn Street, Dingle, Liverpool.

Shortly after the birth baby Ritchie was baptised at St Silas Church of England Church, High Park Street the date of his baptism was 28th July 1940.

St Silas Church baptism register show Richard Starkey's baptism lines.

Ritchie's Dad, Richard was employed as a baker at the time of Ritchie's birth. With the country at war and the rationing that was to follow, the Starkey's, due his father's job, were never short of sugar, which made them very popular in there street!

Ritchie's early childhood was set, to the back drop of war, with Liverpool being heavily bombed, and at the age of 3 years his father Richard left home, leaving Elsie to bring up the baby. Fortunately for Elsie, her Mother-in-law and Father-in-law, lived in the same street and stood by her helping to bring up Ritchie.

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The story of Julia Lennon - What inspired the Book?

25/1/2018

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"Mother, you had me... I never had you.”

These were words written by John Lennon in his deeply personal song ‘Mother’. The song wasn’t so much sang, but screamed out for its recording on the John Lennon/Plastic Ono Band album. The screaming style he used for the song, and the carefully chosen lyrics, could be described as the behaviour of an angry, rebellious teenager. But I wanted to know, why was he so angry? What compelled him to write something so personal, especially during a critical stage of his career?

Who exactly was John's mother Julia?

Was she just a good time girl who enjoyed being in the company of men because of the attention they gave her?

Did she have deep, unstable issues that caused her to act out quite wildly?

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Paul McCartney - In the Town Were They Where Born

16/1/2018

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Never before has any book explored the roots of Sir Paul McCartney in such detail. Beatles fans and people with an interest in local history will be fascinated by this journey into the Liverpool background of one of the world's greatest singer/songwriters.

By exploring childhood homes, schools and family photo albums, plus other significant points of family history, author Kevin Roach tells the full McCartney story from before the Fab Four took the pop world by storm.

Using the vast archive of the Liverpool Record Office, Trinity Mirror and a selection of fantastic images from the family album, we discover the influences on Paul and his brother Michael, by going back to where they once belonged.

The essay first came to light when I was researching for my book 'The McCartney's In The Town Where They Were Born' although a lot of other researchers knew of the essay they along with Sir Paul, thought it had been distroyed 60years ago but during my research if found it had been kept in Liverpool Record Office archives department, along with the other winning essay's.

This is just a sample of what has been discovered during the research for The McCartney's In The Town Where They Were Born. the book is available from to buy from Amazon.co.uk

www.amazon.co.uk/McCartneys-Town-Where-They-Were Born.

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George Harrison - That's The Way God Planned It. Preview.

10/1/2018

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George was born in a small two up - two down terrace house at No 12 Arnorld Grove, Wavertree, Liverpool, the youngest of four children. Shortly after he was born his parents Harold and Louise to George to the local Catholic church Our Lady Of Good Help to be baptised.

The register is written in Latin and reads as follows:
George Harrison - Date of Birth 25th Feb 1943, Date of Baptism 14th March 1943
Parents - Harold and Louise Harrison ( Formerly French). Godmother - Maria Fox

The Harrison's moved from Arnold Grove to the Speke housing estate to 25 Upton Green, when George was of school age. His first school was Dovedale School which was to be the same school as John Lennon, George knew of John at the school because his older brother Peter was in the same school year as John, but George never really bothered with John at that time.

Entry No 1833 Name - George Harrison, Date of Birth - 25/2/43. Address - 25 Upton Green, Speke. in the next column is the word YES this relates to George being exempt from religious education.

After leaving Dovedale School it was time to go to the Seniors, George passed his 11plus exam and was excepted into the Liverpool Institute High School in Liverpool City Centre, another pupil at the "Inny" but a year above him was Paul McCartney. George and Paul would travel to school on the same bus from Speke to the Inny, and became friends through their interest in Rock-n-Roll.

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Eleanor Rigby - The Story beyond the Grave

8/1/2018

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The headstone in St. Peter's Churchyard, Woolton, Liverpool

In August 1966, The Beatles released the single Eleanor Rigby the B-side of Yellow Submarine, it was also included on the Album Revolver.

The song was composed by Paul McCartney and since the release the question has always been asked of Paul, "Who is Eleanor Rigby?"

Paul has always said it was a name that came to him that fitted in with the song, In 1984 it was pointed out to Paul that there is a headstone in St Peter's Graveyard Woolton, that contains the name Eleanor Rigby, the significance of this is that it was back in 1957, when Paul met John at the church fete which was held in the same church grounds.

Paul went onto explain the name Eleanor Rigby was in some way planted into his subconscious, from all those years ago, after all John and Paul would regular take short cuts through the church grounds in the early days before they became The Beatles.

The story of Eleanor was once again put into the public spotlight in 2008 when a document contain a signature E.Rigby dated 1911 was put up for auction and was sold for £115,000, the owner of the document stated that it came for Paul McCartney who had sent it to benefit the charity Sunbeams Music Trust.

Eleanor Rigby has always been a woman of mystery, but for those interested in the story of the infamous Eleanor Rigby here is what we found!