‘Now and Then’ – The Beatles and The Wirral

Who had this on their 2023 bingo card? No, we didn’t think so. However we think we are in a really privileged position.

The Beatles, whose journey from the heart of Liverpool to the pinnacle of global fame is forever etched into history. But the Wirral Peninsula, is often overlooked, holds treasures of The Beatles’ early days, echoing the chords of ‘Now and Then’ – their latest marvel, a production 45 years in the making.

The 2023 release, featuring John, Paul, George, and Ringo, marries the past with the present, blending John Lennon’s 1978 demo vocals with George’s 1995 rhythm guitar, all polished by the hands of Ringo, Paul, and producer Giles Martin. The result is nothing short of spectacular – a poignant testament to their unending appeal.

Liverpool is The Beatles birthplace and quite correctly plays a significant role in the Beatles early career, It is where they met and where they first embarked on their musical odyssey. However, the Wirral Peninsula also possesses an amazing and little known role in the bands early career.

Research has thrown up a significant number of ‘firsts’ for the Fab Four connecting them to the Wirral forever.

For example, it was on the Wirral that their first fan club was formed. Their first publicity photo shots were taken in a Wallasey Village studio and it is home to the venue of Ringo Starr’s official debut with the band, Hulme Hall in Port Sunlight – the band’s first performance as the Fab Four.

They also appeared in stage suits for the first time, the same suits that were designed in Birkenhead.

It was also on the Wirral that they played to the largest ever audience for a live Beatles concert on the UK mainland. In addition, several interesting and quirky events have Wirral origins. Believe it or not the Wirral is home to the venue where one of their gigs did not meet the agreed fee and a fundraising event a week later had to be arranged to raise the balance. It was at the same venue that George Harrison left behind his suitcase, the significance of which was not realised for over 40 years and which is now on display in the Merseybeat Museum based at Fort Perch Rock in New Brighton.

Individually the Beatles all had Wirral connections. John Lennon had relatives here and would spend many a school summer holiday staying at his aunts in Rock Ferry. Paul’s relatives lived in Bebington and Paul was a regular visitor to their home whilst a Beatle, with his brother Mike currently living in Heswall and Paul being seen in 2021 at a Merseytravel bus stop on Pensby Road, Pensby

New York’s Central Park was modelled on Birkenhead’s and in later life John Lennon, when living in America, would comment on the similarity between the two.

It is perhaps surprising that until very recently, only two venues displayed markers to denote the Beatles appearances. Thankfully, Wirral Council has now rectified this and plaques are proudly displayed outside all the key venues. The venues listed can be easily visited in a day or the visitor may prefer to concentrate on one area and take in the coastal towns of West Kirby/Hoylake or the resurgent resort of New Brighton.

Let’s leave the last words to the fab four themselves from their classic song in ‘My Life’…

‘There are places I’ll remember all my life though some have changed’