PAUL OVER LIVERPOOL (Room 515)
PAUL OVER LIVERPOOL (Room 515)
Paul was the only Beatle to accept his ‘Freedom of the City of Liverpool’ in person when it was presented to him at The Town Hall on November 28th 1984. Prior to The Beatles, only 41 other people had been offered the honor including William Gladstone and Bob Paisley (the most successful manager in the history of English football). Paul remarked “I’d like to think it’s people of Liverpool giving this to me. If that’s true it’s the greatest honor”. Of all of The Beatles, Paul had kept in touch most with his hometown, even making an un-announced return to The Cavern in 1968 to show his new girlfriend, Linda Eastman, a look at ‘Where it all began’. He also played for four nights at the Royal Court Theatre in September 1979 with all receipts being donated by Paul to save the theatre from closing. However, it was perhaps his historic and emotional homecoming concert at The Albert Dock in June 1990 that re-enforced his strong roots more than ever before. At the press conference he announced plans to help to transform his (and George’s) old school, the derelict Liverpool Institute into a ‘Fame’ type academy. He promised to lead the project if the people of Liverpool wanted it. The response in the Liverpool Echo was overwhelming and the quest to open what became LIPA began in earnest. It was the start of Paul’s omnipresence in the City. Perhaps spawned by knowledge that John had been excitedly talking about his imminent return to “The Pool” scheduled for February 1981, that encouraged Paul to take a more active role. John had even sent for his Aunt Mimi to send him his old Quarry Bank tie… which he began wearing around NYC. John was speaking about a possible gig at the Liverpool Empire when his life was cruelly cut short by an assassin’s bullet. Paul had previously bought his father a house on The Wirral and when he died, had decided to keep the home for himself. Since his decision to develop his old school, Paul has been constantly back to his Wirral home and is frequently spotted walking around Heswall or Parkgate. His love of his City is unquestioned and whatever he has been doing since 1990 he has included Liverpool in it. Thus we have seen an art exhibition at The Walker Art Gallery, a poetry reading at the Everyman Theatre, a book signing at WH Smiths, an emotional tribute to George Harrison at The Liverpool Empire Theatre, two gigs at The Cavern, and of course a spectacular return to the Albert Dock in May 2003. He also premiered his classical work ‘Standing Stone’ at The Philharmonic Hall and most spectacularly his ‘Liverpool Oratorio’ at the Anglican Cathedral in June 1991. Paul even opened a children’s playground in Calderstones Park, Liverpool dedicated to his wife Linda. Of course his dreams of redeveloping LIPA have come to fruition and he personally hands out the degrees to each student every July. LIPA was opened by the Queen in 1996 and has produced many famous graduates including Sandi Thom, who had a chart topping single and album. Liverpool is, of course, synonymous with The Beatles and is often called ‘The Fifth Beatle’. Tourism, Beatles Story Museum, Beatle Week, The Mathew Street Festival, and the Hard Day’s Night Hotel, itself, bear witness to their enduring appeal and it is fitting that every minute and every hour of the day, The City of Liverpool are direct beneficiaries of The Beatles legacy, which gives the City a unique niche market for evermore. This fact was recognised when Paul and the City of Liverpool were jointly given an award for ‘Outstanding contribution to English Tourism’ by Visit Britain in April 2007.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
PAUL OVER LIVERPOOL (Room 515)
Paul was the only Beatle to accept his ‘Freedom of the City of Liverpool’ in person when it was presented to him at The Town Hall on November 28th 1984. Prior to The Beatles, only 41 other people had been offered the honor including William Gladstone and Bob Paisley (the most successful manager in the history of English football). Paul remarked “I’d like to think it’s people of Liverpool giving this to me. If that’s true it’s the greatest honor”. Of all of The Beatles, Paul had kept in touch most with his hometown, even making an un-announced return to The Cavern in 1968 to show his new girlfriend, Linda Eastman, a look at ‘Where it all began’. He also played for four nights at the Royal Court Theatre in September 1979 with all receipts being donated by Paul to save the theatre from closing. However, it was perhaps his historic and emotional homecoming concert at The Albert Dock in June 1990 that re-enforced his strong roots more than ever before. At the press conference he announced plans to help to transform his (and George’s) old school, the derelict Liverpool Institute into a ‘Fame’ type academy. He promised to lead the project if the people of Liverpool wanted it. The response in the Liverpool Echo was overwhelming and the quest to open what became LIPA began in earnest. It was the start of Paul’s omnipresence in the City. Perhaps spawned by knowledge that John had been excitedly talking about his imminent return to “The Pool” scheduled for February 1981, that encouraged Paul to take a more active role. John had even sent for his Aunt Mimi to send him his old Quarry Bank tie… which he began wearing around NYC. John was speaking about a possible gig at the Liverpool Empire when his life was cruelly cut short by an assassin’s bullet. Paul had previously bought his father a house on The Wirral and when he died, had decided to keep the home for himself. Since his decision to develop his old school, Paul has been constantly back to his Wirral home and is frequently spotted walking around Heswall or Parkgate. His love of his City is unquestioned and whatever he has been doing since 1990 he has included Liverpool in it. Thus we have seen an art exhibition at The Walker Art Gallery, a poetry reading at the Everyman Theatre, a book signing at WH Smiths, an emotional tribute to George Harrison at The Liverpool Empire Theatre, two gigs at The Cavern, and of course a spectacular return to the Albert Dock in May 2003. He also premiered his classical work ‘Standing Stone’ at The Philharmonic Hall and most spectacularly his ‘Liverpool Oratorio’ at the Anglican Cathedral in June 1991. Paul even opened a children’s playground in Calderstones Park, Liverpool dedicated to his wife Linda. Of course his dreams of redeveloping LIPA have come to fruition and he personally hands out the degrees to each student every July. LIPA was opened by the Queen in 1996 and has produced many famous graduates including Sandi Thom, who had a chart topping single and album. Liverpool is, of course, synonymous with The Beatles and is often called ‘The Fifth Beatle’. Tourism, Beatles Story Museum, Beatle Week, The Mathew Street Festival, and the Hard Day’s Night Hotel, itself, bear witness to their enduring appeal and it is fitting that every minute and every hour of the day, The City of Liverpool are direct beneficiaries of The Beatles legacy, which gives the City a unique niche market for evermore. This fact was recognised when Paul and the City of Liverpool were jointly given an award for ‘Outstanding contribution to English Tourism’ by Visit Britain in April 2007.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON
PAUL OVER LIVERPOOL (Room 515)
Paul was the only Beatle to accept his ‘Freedom of the City of Liverpool’ in person when it was presented to him at The Town Hall on November 28th 1984. Prior to The Beatles, only 41 other people had been offered the honor including William Gladstone and Bob Paisley (the most successful manager in the history of English football). Paul remarked “I’d like to think it’s people of Liverpool giving this to me. If that’s true it’s the greatest honor”. Of all of The Beatles, Paul had kept in touch most with his hometown, even making an un-announced return to The Cavern in 1968 to show his new girlfriend, Linda Eastman, a look at ‘Where it all began’. He also played for four nights at the Royal Court Theatre in September 1979 with all receipts being donated by Paul to save the theatre from closing. However, it was perhaps his historic and emotional homecoming concert at The Albert Dock in June 1990 that re-enforced his strong roots more than ever before. At the press conference he announced plans to help to transform his (and George’s) old school, the derelict Liverpool Institute into a ‘Fame’ type academy. He promised to lead the project if the people of Liverpool wanted it. The response in the Liverpool Echo was overwhelming and the quest to open what became LIPA began in earnest. It was the start of Paul’s omnipresence in the City. Perhaps spawned by knowledge that John had been excitedly talking about his imminent return to “The Pool” scheduled for February 1981, that encouraged Paul to take a more active role. John had even sent for his Aunt Mimi to send him his old Quarry Bank tie… which he began wearing around NYC. John was speaking about a possible gig at the Liverpool Empire when his life was cruelly cut short by an assassin’s bullet. Paul had previously bought his father a house on The Wirral and when he died, had decided to keep the home for himself. Since his decision to develop his old school, Paul has been constantly back to his Wirral home and is frequently spotted walking around Heswall or Parkgate. His love of his City is unquestioned and whatever he has been doing since 1990 he has included Liverpool in it. Thus we have seen an art exhibition at The Walker Art Gallery, a poetry reading at the Everyman Theatre, a book signing at WH Smiths, an emotional tribute to George Harrison at The Liverpool Empire Theatre, two gigs at The Cavern, and of course a spectacular return to the Albert Dock in May 2003. He also premiered his classical work ‘Standing Stone’ at The Philharmonic Hall and most spectacularly his ‘Liverpool Oratorio’ at the Anglican Cathedral in June 1991. Paul even opened a children’s playground in Calderstones Park, Liverpool dedicated to his wife Linda. Of course his dreams of redeveloping LIPA have come to fruition and he personally hands out the degrees to each student every July. LIPA was opened by the Queen in 1996 and has produced many famous graduates including Sandi Thom, who had a chart topping single and album. Liverpool is, of course, synonymous with The Beatles and is often called ‘The Fifth Beatle’. Tourism, Beatles Story Museum, Beatle Week, The Mathew Street Festival, and the Hard Day’s Night Hotel, itself, bear witness to their enduring appeal and it is fitting that every minute and every hour of the day, The City of Liverpool are direct beneficiaries of The Beatles legacy, which gives the City a unique niche market for evermore. This fact was recognised when Paul and the City of Liverpool were jointly given an award for ‘Outstanding contribution to English Tourism’ by Visit Britain in April 2007.
Artwork painted and owned by ©SHANNON