BABY JOHN (Room 103)
BABY JOHN (Room 103)
Contrary to earlier accounts, research has shown that John was not born during a World War II air raid. However, he was named after our wartime leader, a name that he later renounced. John Winston Lennon was born on October 9th 1940 in Oxford Street Maternity hospital near the City Centre.
John’s father (Freddie) was away at sea and his mother Julia struggled to cope. Freddie “disappeared” for many months and Julia presumed he was dead. Julia became pregnant with Victoria after a liaison with a soldier, but upon birth her daughter was taken away from her and adopted by a Norwegian Sea Captain . Sadly John never met Victoria the half sister he knew he had, as she only “came to light” after John’s death. John’s mother later met and fell in love with John Dykins who worked at The Adelphi Hotel. It was later arranged that John (then aged 2 ½) move in with his aunt Mimi and Uncle George, who looked after him. Julia and John Dykins had two daughters of their own, Julia and Jacqui and John enjoyed a very close relationship with both of them. John continued to live with his Aunt Mimi although he was getting close to his mum who taught him to play the banjo! Much of John’s later pain and insecurity can be traced to his troublesome childhood and his mother’s tragic premature death in a road accident.
Artwork © Shannon
BABY JOHN (Room 103)
Contrary to earlier accounts, research has shown that John was not born during a World War II air raid. However, he was named after our wartime leader, a name that he later renounced. John Winston Lennon was born on October 9th 1940 in Oxford Street Maternity hospital near the City Centre.
John’s father (Freddie) was away at sea and his mother Julia struggled to cope. Freddie “disappeared” for many months and Julia presumed he was dead. Julia became pregnant with Victoria after a liaison with a soldier, but upon birth her daughter was taken away from her and adopted by a Norwegian Sea Captain . Sadly John never met Victoria the half sister he knew he had, as she only “came to light” after John’s death. John’s mother later met and fell in love with John Dykins who worked at The Adelphi Hotel. It was later arranged that John (then aged 2 ½) move in with his aunt Mimi and Uncle George, who looked after him. Julia and John Dykins had two daughters of their own, Julia and Jacqui and John enjoyed a very close relationship with both of them. John continued to live with his Aunt Mimi although he was getting close to his mum who taught him to play the banjo! Much of John’s later pain and insecurity can be traced to his troublesome childhood and his mother’s tragic premature death in a road accident.
Artwork © Shannon
BABY JOHN (Room 103)
Contrary to earlier accounts, research has shown that John was not born during a World War II air raid. However, he was named after our wartime leader, a name that he later renounced. John Winston Lennon was born on October 9th 1940 in Oxford Street Maternity hospital near the City Centre.
John’s father (Freddie) was away at sea and his mother Julia struggled to cope. Freddie “disappeared” for many months and Julia presumed he was dead. Julia became pregnant with Victoria after a liaison with a soldier, but upon birth her daughter was taken away from her and adopted by a Norwegian Sea Captain . Sadly John never met Victoria the half sister he knew he had, as she only “came to light” after John’s death. John’s mother later met and fell in love with John Dykins who worked at The Adelphi Hotel. It was later arranged that John (then aged 2 ½) move in with his aunt Mimi and Uncle George, who looked after him. Julia and John Dykins had two daughters of their own, Julia and Jacqui and John enjoyed a very close relationship with both of them. John continued to live with his Aunt Mimi although he was getting close to his mum who taught him to play the banjo! Much of John’s later pain and insecurity can be traced to his troublesome childhood and his mother’s tragic premature death in a road accident.
Artwork © Shannon