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 What a fantastic day - the sun blazed down all the time except for about two minutes as the Quarrymen started playing! Our biggest problem was how to get up on the back of the lorry! Dave Chadwick, who drove us on 6 July 1957, was there again, driving one of his company’s lorries, tastefully decorated with some Quarrymen decals. On the lorry were three Quarrymen who were there in 1957, drummer Colin Hanton, tea-chest bass player Len Garry and banjo player Rod Davis - although Len and Rod were now playing guitars. They were joined by their old manager, Nige Walley, who got them their first booking at the Cavern - today Nige was trying his hand at the washboard. John Duff Lowe, who played on “That’ll be the Day” and “In Spite of all the Danger”- with Colin Hanton plus John, Paul and George, and finally Chas Newby who played bass with John, Paul, George and Pete Best.
The route of the lorry took them down Church Road, a long Allerton Road through the middle f Woolton Village, down High Street and Kings Drive as in 1957, then back up Kings Drive, along Woolton Street to the lamps, then back up Allerton Road and Church Road. There were huge crowds of onlookers especially in Church Road, the mobile phones and the cameras were clicking away madly so there will be no shortage of videos and photos this time around.
The lorry turned back up the lane to the Church Field, now occupied by Bishop Martin Primary School and the Quarrymen climbed gingerly off the back and went for a lie down in a darkened room until they were due to play later that afternoon. Meanwhile the bells of St. Peter’s played Beatles music! John Lennon’s half-sister, Julia Baird, opened the fete with her sister Jackie and cousin, David Birch, all of whom had been at the fet 60 years before.
B ishop Martin Primary School had filled their grounds with stalls, coconut shies, refreshment stalls and all sorts of games. The Rose Queen - and the Rose King - were crowned by Julia and everyone had a fabulous time. there was a table-tennis tournament, a fancy dress competition and the band of the Salvation Army played for the assembled crowd.
Johnny Storm and the T-Cups played a great Rock ‘n’ Roll set and they were followed by the Quarrymen who played for about half an hour. Their set included quite a few numbers which they had played 60 years before! Sadly however this time there was no good-looking young man turned up to watch them, having cycled all the way from Allerton! After the Quarrymen came the Coburn Brothers with a blistering John and Paul set.
In the evening the “Grand Dance” was held in t he Church Hall, just as 60 years previously. Once again Johnny Storm and the T-Cups made the rafters ring, then the Quarrymen - this time with Nige Walley playing the Tea-chest bass as he had done occasionally in the old days - played another set of their vintage skiffle and rock ‘n’ roll numbers and the evening was rounded off by Mike Byrne and the Sunrockers.
What a fabulous day! Beatles fans had come from all over the world to be present, from Brazil, Argentina, Belgium, Poland, Italy, the USA, Japan, Spain and loads more besides.
Our thanks go to the dozens of people who made this day such a success - the staff and pupils of Bishop Martin Primary School, the helpers from St. Peter’s Church and especially all the guys from Cavern City Tours.
There are quite a few videos on Youtube, his is a link to the best one we’ve found so far. Many thanks to the person who videod it and put it up!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjSjxuVT7_w
and here’s a link to a BBC interview where Sir Paul talks about 6 July 1957:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/entertainment-arts-40519135/it-s-60-years-since-john-lennon-met-paul-mccartney
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The organisers of the Mons Beatles Day asked Rod Davis to give his talk on the Quarrymen’s Skiffle Years in French at the Theatre Royal in Mons on Sat 14 October. Also on the bill were a host of musicians including the Clube Big Beatles from Brazil, Alain Pirea’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Jay Goeppner and Maiju Lepomaki, One after 909 from Holland, The Beatles Revival Band and the Choking Smokers!
