From July 5 to 9, 2017, St Peter’s Church and Bishop Martin CE Primary School welcomed the world to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the day that John met Paul with a five day music festival. 

Quilt Exhibition by Yoko Kaji

One of the best things about my work with St Peter’s Church was the opportunity to make dreams come true. In 2015, the all-girl Japanese tribute band, The Blue Margarets visited St Peter’s Church Hall and treated us to a couple of songs.  It was a really special moment, and something that we will never forget!  Then, in April this year, Rika from the Blue Margarets wrote to us, saying this: “I’m not good at English at all, so if they’re strange sentences, I’m sorry.  Singing at the church hall is my lifetime memories.  And I’d like to ask you today.  A friend of mine is a quilt master who loves the Beatles  She is making a lot of big quilt works with the motif of the Beatles.  She wants to display the quilt work at Liverpool’s “International Beatleweek”.  It is her big big dream!  Could you showcase quilt works at St Peter Church at this year’s “International Beatleweek”?  It is a request from my heart.”

Rika went on to say that her friend “loves the Beatles very much.  Her work is full of love for the Beatles and there is no doubt that it hits the hearts of the viewers.  There are requests from overseas as well as all over Japan, and it is exhibited in Korea and the USA.  But her dream is Liverpool!”

Graham Paisley and I thought that this would be a perfect way to celebrate the 60th anniversary and we were determined to make Yoko’s dream come true. You can see all of Yoko’s wonderful quilts on this slideshow. Click the ‘pause’ button in the top right-hand corner for a longer look!

Also on display in the Church Hall were the original robes worn by the Rose Queens in the 1950s and 1960s!

Those no longer with us, but always remembered and deeply cherished, were not forgotten as we prepared to celebrate the anniversary.

We also laid flowers for Dave Peter’s, a much-loved member of St Peter’s Church.  Dave witnessed the meeting of John and Paul in 1957 and devoted the last years of his life to conducting tours and sharing his memories with the hundreds of Beatles fans who travelled to St Peter’s Church.  Dave is deeply missed by us all.
 

As my team and I started to set up the Hall on Tuesday July 4, though, we had no idea of what awaited us over the next five days!  It turned out to be better than we could possibly have imagined!

 Wednesday July 5

The anniversary celebrations began with a special Beatle-themed singalong, led by Norma Townley with the Formby Ukelele Orchestra. It was the perfect start to five days of music and laughter!

Thursday July 6

With the support of Cavern City Tours, the 60th anniversary of the day that John met Paul was celebrated throughout Woolton village. It truly was a day to remember for the hundreds of people who travelled from around the world to share in the celebrations.

St Peter’s Church opened its doors to share the beauty of its interior with visitors, and the bell-tower was also open for tours with some visitors invited to try their hand at bell-ringing with a chance to ring ‘Bell Number Three’ (the bell that the young John Lennon had once rung).

The Church Hall was packed with visitors all day, with some very special guests among the crowd.

In July 1957, the Church fete began with a parade around the village, and James Davis popped out to take some photos of his children, who were taking part. Luckily for us, his collection included a photo of his son, Rod, and Rod’s mates.

In 2017, the Quarrymen once more travelled around the village on the back of Sam Chadwick’s lorry!

After the parade around the village, everyone gathered on the field behind St Peter’s Church (land now occupied by Bishop Martin CE School) for the annual fete.

Because things ran late, the Quarrymen only performed once and, during that performance in 1957, Geoff Rhind took this famous photograph of John Lennon and the Quarrymen; it was here that Paul McCartney got his first glimpse of John on stage!  I am extremely grateful to Geoff for allowing me to use his photo on this website!

Sixty years after Geoff’s photo was taken, the fete was recreated by Bishop Martin School in conjunction with the Cavern Club and St Peter’s Church, and hundreds crowded onto the school field to join in the anniversary celebrations!

Then, as it had 60 years ago, the day concluded with a dance in St Peter’s Church Hall, with performances from musicians from the Cavern as well as, of course, the Quarrymen!

Friday July 7

The highlight for the celebrations on Friday July 7 was a fabulous free concert from Mersey Harmony Ladies Barbershop Singers!

In the evening of Friday July 7, St Peter’s Church Hall rocked to the sound of Merseybeat as the Shakers, the Cavern’s resident Merseybeat band, entertained a packed Church Hall in our Celebration of Community party! 

Saturday July 8

There was a real family atmosphere the Church Hall on the 4th day of our five-day music festival celebrating Community and the Beatles!

The day started with a beautiful acoustic session from Dave and Danielle Flynn, and in the afternoon the Church Hall rocked to the sounds of the Prellies! The Prellies announced their participation in their own inimitable style; you can read it here. With Radio Merseyside broadcasting live from the Church Hall in the afternoon, everyone was able to join in the fun!

Sunday July 9

On Sunday July 9, Revd Kip Crooks led a special Church service in St Peter’s Church that celebrated the role that the Church has played in Beatles history, and the importance of community.

After the service, the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside and Lord Mayor of Liverpool took part in a rose-planting ceremony to permanently mark the 60th anniversary of the day that John met Paul at St Peter’s Church. R esearch conducted by students in the Department of History & Archaeology at the University of Chester revealed that one of the most popular roses in 1957 was the “Peace Rose” which, of course, links perfectly to the Peace Cross outside St Peter’s and John’s love of peace.  When this is added to the vibrant pink colour of the McCartney Rose, then planting a “Pink Peace” rose seemed like the perfect way to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the day that John met Paul.

Following the rose-planting ceremony, the grand finale of the anniversary celebrations took place in St Peter’s Church Hall. To put the finishing touch to our celebration of community, the food, drink and entertainment was all free, and the atmosphere in the hall was priceless!

We were honoured by the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of Merseyside and the Lord Mayor of Liverpool, and delighted when Ricky Tomlinson showed up too!

Entertainment was provided by the BabyFaced Beatles — Louis, 11, Jay, 12, Killian, 11 and Harry, 11 – and they, and others like them are the real legacy of the momentous events that took place at St Peter’s Church on July 6, 1957.  The future of live Beatles music rests on their young shoulders, and there can be no better way of ending our celebration of the moment when it all began, in the place where it all began, than with a performance from the boys who represent the future.

There was also music from Rob Clarke & the Wooltones, who were thrilled when Colin Hanton and Len Garry of the original Quarrymen sat in with them, uniting the past and the future of Beatles music in the place where it all began 60 years ago.

And, after the anniversary was over, and everything packed away, the Church Hall returned to business as usual …

Thank you to everyone who took part — performers, staff, volunteers and visitors — and made the Celebration of Community, and of the 60th Anniversary of the Day that John Met Paul, so memorable and special!