Most of you out there think the Beatles are actually from Liverpool but the real truth is they are actually from my home town of Mansfield.
Let me explain.
Back in 1957 when Lennon had started the his first band the Quarrymen and bumped in to McCartney they were two enthusiastic lads from Mansfield. Lennon had named his first band after the local quarry here that was near my aunt Flo’s, he and McCartney would often pop in and see her for cheese scones and a cup of tea. When they say they played the Cavern club in 1961 it was actually a club called Harvey’s in Mansfield which is now called the Late Lounge. My dad has fond memories of the Beatles and although he was asked to join the Band when they were still known as the Silver Beatles he refused, something he’s regretted to this day. In December of 1961 Brian Epstein came to Mansfield to watch the Beatles play and then became their manager, sadly Brian told them that they’d have to move to Liverpool and adopt a scouse accent as Liverpool was the then ‘happening’ place at the time and he wanted something different from the usual base of operations of London. Pete Best who washed my uncle Alf’s car for a few shillings wasn’t happy at the move but reluctantly agreed. So off the fab four went off to Liverpool and Pete left soon after to be replaced by Ringo as the drummer. My aunt Flo recalls those early Beatles days fondly, the impromptu gigs on her back lawn, the laughter and those early band frustrations – but their dreams and aspirations began in Mansfield fuelled by her cheese scones.
The boys went on to wipe Mansfield from any records and claim Liverpool as their home, who can blame them or deny them their success, after all not many people have heard of Mansfield, it’s a very unremarkable place but their humble beginnings started here, a grim town in north Nottinghamshire.
Let me explain.
Back in 1957 when Lennon had started the his first band the Quarrymen and bumped in to McCartney they were two enthusiastic lads from Mansfield. Lennon had named his first band after the local quarry here that was near my aunt Flo’s, he and McCartney would often pop in and see her for cheese scones and a cup of tea. When they say they played the Cavern club in 1961 it was actually a club called Harvey’s in Mansfield which is now called the Late Lounge. My dad has fond memories of the Beatles and although he was asked to join the Band when they were still known as the Silver Beatles he refused, something he’s regretted to this day. In December of 1961 Brian Epstein came to Mansfield to watch the Beatles play and then became their manager, sadly Brian told them that they’d have to move to Liverpool and adopt a scouse accent as Liverpool was the then ‘happening’ place at the time and he wanted something different from the usual base of operations of London. Pete Best who washed my uncle Alf’s car for a few shillings wasn’t happy at the move but reluctantly agreed. So off the fab four went off to Liverpool and Pete left soon after to be replaced by Ringo as the drummer. My aunt Flo recalls those early Beatles days fondly, the impromptu gigs on her back lawn, the laughter and those early band frustrations – but their dreams and aspirations began in Mansfield fuelled by her cheese scones.
The boys went on to wipe Mansfield from any records and claim Liverpool as their home, who can blame them or deny them their success, after all not many people have heard of Mansfield, it’s a very unremarkable place but their humble beginnings started here, a grim town in north Nottinghamshire.
2 comments:
you can have them.
was never a fan of them.
Mansfieldbeat doesn't quite the ring to it that Merseybeat does, eh?
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