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Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
John Lennon's Scots holiday home won't have a plaque to say so after plans dropped
His worldwide fame as one of The Beatles means every town and city craves a connection to his legacy. However, plans to mark the Edinburgh home where John Lennon spent his childhood holidays have collapsed following a bitter fall out among officials. As a schoolboy Lennon regularly spent part of the summer holidays with his aunt and uncle at the two-storey property in the capital's upmarket Murrayfield area. He penned the Fab Four's song Rain while staying at the house and also returned to visit at the height of Beatlemania. To mark the connection, a commemorative sign was proposed by Pete Gregson of the Murrayfield Community Council (MCC), which initially backed the project in 2023. Just weeks later Mr Gregson was asked to resign by fellow councillors after they took exception to comments they claimed he wrote online about the 'situation in Gaza'. Minutes from subsequent meetings show the issue was resolved, with Mr Gregson continuing to be on the community council until choosing to leave this year. However, in the wake of his departure, the plaque proposal has now been officially dropped. MCC secretary Hamish Ross said: 'A new Community Council was formed following the 2025 election cycle. 'Local plaques are not on the agenda at the moment and the leading light behind this particular one stood down at the elections.' Lennon's aunt Elizabeth – known to her family as 'Mater' – was the sister of his mother Julia, and lived at 15 Ormidale Terrace with her son Stan Parkes and her second husband Robert Sutherland. The proposed wording on the plaque read: 'John Lennon visited Ormidale Terrace regularly until the age of 17 in 1957 to visit his aunt and cousin; he often performed for the family on his aunt's piano. 'The cupboard under the stairs was where he penned The Beatles ' song Rain, the 1966 B-side to Paperback Writer. His long summers here ranked among his happiest childhood memories, describing Edinburgh as one of his favourite cities, enjoying the Festival, the Tattoo and the rugby at Murrayfield. 'He even brought Yoko Ono here in 1969.' Marlene Wood, 62, the current owner of the £1 million townhouse, said some people liked the idea of the plaque 'but others definitely opposed it'. She said: 'We already get people ringing the doorbell to ask for a look around. 'I think some neighbours were worried the street would become a tourist attraction. The taxi drivers know the house, so I see them slowing down and people staring out.' In a letter written in 1978 to his cousin Stan, two years before Lennon was murdered outside his New York apartment, he expressed his regret at the house being sold by the family. He wrote: 'I would have bought 15 Ormidale. Wish, wish, wish.'
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Irish Daily Mirror
Parade atrocity hit hard in Ireland thanks to our unique links to Liverpool
News of the atrocity which befell the city of Liverpool on Monday quickly reverberated around the globe. Shortly after 6 pm, a 53-year-old man drove into multiple fans who were attending the Reds' bus parade. What started as a truly joyous occasion quickly turned into utter devastation. Nearly 80 people were injured, some of whom remain in a serious condition in hospital. Here, in Ireland, our strong ties with Liverpool meant it hit hard. The decades-long deep-rooted connections between Ireland and the English port city meant the pain and devastation were felt even more deeply here. Figures show there are nearly 500,000 Irish Liverpool fans and it's estimated around 75 per cent of Liverpudlians have Irish ancestry. The link is deeper, though - from music to accents to our vernacular and emigration, there's a lot that connects Ireland with Liverpool. Here, we take a deeper look at the unique Liverpool-Irish links. Everybody knows the Beatles hail from Liverpool. But some might be surprised to learn that the four members of what is arguably the most famous band in the world had Irish roots. John Lennon's grandfather James was born in Down while his great-grandmother, Elizabeth Gildea, hailed from Omagh in Tyrone. Paul McCartney's clan had connections with Monaghan. His maternal grandfather, named Owen Mohan, came from Tullynamallow. Ringo Starr is considered the most English member of the band, but his roots go back to Mayo. George Harrison's family, meanwhile, originally hailed from Wexford as it emerged that they were landowners before being stripped of their land by Oliver Cromwell during the plantations. All the families eventually found their way to Liverpool. During the Beatles' infamous visit to the Irish capital in 1963, Lennon declared: 'We're all Irish!' A more recent musical connection would be Nathan Carter. The 35-year-old Wagon Wheel singer was born in Liverpool to Northern Irish parents. He moved across at 18 and is now based in Fermanagh. Liverpool was also featured in songs by The Dubliners, including The Leavin' of Liverpool and Liverpool Lou. Trade Unionist leader James Larkin, who, along with James Connolly and William O'Brien, founded the Labour Party, was born in Toxteth in Liverpool in January 1874 to Irish emigrants. Big Jim gained national and international acclaim for his part in organising the 1913 strike that sparked the Dublin lockout. The lock-out was an industrial dispute that began over pay and conditions and the right to unionise. It involved around 20,000 workers and 300 employers and lasted from August 1913 to 18 January 1914. It is widely considered the most severe and significant industrial dispute in Irish history. Another well-known Irish figure with connections to Liverpool was William Butler Yeats. A New York Times article recalls how, as a youngster, he would frequently travel across the Irish Sea to Liverpool on board his grandad's boat. Many Liverpudlians have Irish heritage. Most of this can be traced back to the famine, but some stretches even further back. The Irish Famine began in 1845, at which point around 50,000 Irish settlers were already living in Liverpool. The numbers grew exponentially in the subsequent years as conditions in Ireland continued to deteriorate. A staggering 120,000 Irish arrived in Liverpool during the first three months of 1847. Eight months later, around 300,000 had landed. Most had plans to continue on their journey to the USA, but a large portion, who were considered the poorest and weakest, remained in Liverpool. It's been estimated that over the course of 63 years, between 1850 and 1913, more than 4.5 million Irish men and women left Ireland for Liverpool. The famine had a lasting impact on the demographics of Liverpool. It is believed that an estimated 75 per cent of the city's residents have some Irish ancestry. The company that built the Titanic, known as the White Star Line, had its headquarters on James Street in Liverpool. The infamous ship was constructed in Belfast and set sail from Southampton to the US, stopping in Cork. She was registered in Liverpool and, as a result, bore the city's name on her stern. The ship left for New York on April 10, 1912. In total, 2,208 people were onboard when the ship struck an iceberg. More than 1,500 lost their lives. Many of those onboard the ship, including passengers and staff, had ties to Liverpool. The Scouse accent and particular words and phrases are heavily influenced by the Irish who emigrated there. One example of this is the 'Ta-ra' which is regularly used by Liverpudlians. It is a shortened version of 'take care' and is often used as a way to say goodbye. The exact origins of the phrase are disputed, but one theory is that it emerged from the Irish phrase 'tabhair aire' which means take care. Another example of this is calling someone 'a wool' when they are from outside of Liverpool. It is thought to come from Irish slang when referring to people from the countryside, 'a woolyback'. Other common slang phrases which are heard in both Ireland and Liverpool include words and phrases like 'grand', 'melter', 'gaff', 'baltic' and 'swelterin'' and 'craic'. The roots of the late Cilla Black go back to Ireland. The British singer's great-grandparents were all Irish while her maternal grandfather was born to Irish emigrants in Wales. Her Irishness also shaped her upbringing. She was raised as a Roman Catholic and lived in the Irish-Catholic stronghold of Scotland Road in Liverpool. TV presenter Paul O'Grady, who passed away in 2023, also had strong Irish roots. During his life, he often said he'd love to move to Ireland - particularly to Roscommon. Manchester United ace Wayne Rooney also has links to Ireland and it's been reported he even considered playing for the Boys in Green.
Toronto Sun
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Toronto Sun
Let's talk about the Beatles: The records, the friendships and why they endure
Published May 28, 2025 • Last updated 0 minutes ago • 6 minute read The Beatles address the media in the press room of Kennedy International Airport on their arrival, Feb. 7, 1964 in New York. Photo by Uncredited / THE ASSOCIATED PRESS John Lennon once defined himself as a 'record man' – he preferred listening to records over attending live performances. Though I saw the Beatles live in Ed Sullivan's studio, I have to agree with John: Records provide a repeatable pleasure that's often exclusively personal, a romance between the singer's voice and the listener's ear. Records are material, tangible and portable; they enter history in a way live performances can't. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account For fans of recorded music – and the Beatles – 'Ribbons of Rust: The Beatles' Recording History in Context' delivers a fascinating look at how the group's record-making dream became a reality. This detail-heavy history by Robert Rodriguez and Jerry Hammack showcases the postwar Liverpool environment that fostered the Beatles' first No. 1 record, 'Please Please Me': the 45s the Beatles listened to; the technology available to them, such as house studios and portable tape recorders (the book's title is a reference to the recording tape the band used). The book also examines how British publications such as Mersey Beat magazine and New Musical Express, along with Radio Luxembourg, which played American rock-and-roll, helped create an audience for youth-focused music. Finally, it explores the role of certain important people, most notably Brian Epstein and George Martin, but also small-time impresarios such as Allan Williams, the man who brought the band to Hamburg, in 1960. And we shouldn't forget the unnamed man who sold John his 1958 Rickenbacker guitar while there. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Rodriguez, author of multiple books about the Beatles and host of the podcast 'Something About the Beatles,' writes expertly about the group and indulges in information that I suspect only Beatles superfans know, such as the name of the man who requested 'My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,' a record the Beatles cut while in Germany, from Brian Epstein, then the owner of a record store. Hammack, an authority on recording techniques, is the author of the five-volume series 'The Beatles Recording Reference Manuals.' The structure of 'Ribbons' has the feel of a deeply informed scrapbook. It is full of historical facts and photographs; it also includes QR codes that allow readers to connect to additional online content, such as performances by the Coasters, Chuck Berry and the pre-Beatles skiffle band the Quarrymen. Included, too, are playlists of old Beatles gigs and in-depth technical information about studio recordings and their instrumentation. I haven't any idea what a 'modified … connection on a Leak Point One preamplifier to accept McCartney's bass … then combined to a Tannoy Dual Concentric 15-inch speaker' means, but I'm glad it facilitated the recording of 'Please Please Me.' More tech information will appear in the second volume of 'Ribbons,' covering the band's recording years after 1963. Your noon-hour look at what's happening in Toronto and beyond. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. Please try again This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This extratextual information invites readers to step inside history and imagine what it was like to live and create as the Beatles did. After seeing the staid album covers featured in the book and listening to some of the songs on Top 10 lists, younger Beatles fans might have to recalibrate their perceptions of the early years of rock-and-roll. Older fans, such as myself, will remember how various popular music actually was, and that radio playlists often included both wild man Little Richard and the soporific Perry Como. The immersive facts and visuals of 'Ribbons' demonstrate how profoundly the Beatles changed specific aspects of culture that might be easily overlooked. For example, album covers were relatively tame until 1965, when the Beatles chose their own distorted photograph for 'Rubber Soul.' The iconic 'Sgt. Pepper' cover appeared two years later. The exceptions to this album cover decorum were the fabulously dynamic and often abstract covers from the Blue Note jazz label beginning in the mid-1950s. The Beatles didn't listen to modern jazz, but their musical and visual stands against the status quo were widely felt across the culture. Today, eruptions of visual excitement are common, ditto for advances in recording technology, but Rodriguez and Hammack remind us that even with primitive equipment, the Beatles created magic. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. 'Ribbons of Rust' draws a map of the cultural environment in which the Beatles discovered their ambitions and displayed their talents. As readers, we can pick and choose where to stop and linger on this map – to look, listen or simply contemplate how four young men changed how we think about a record, that thin piece of vinyl that spins around and around, bringing us joy. Ribbons of Rust Photo by Bemis Publishing Group / Bemis Publishing Group Reading Ian Leslie's 'John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs' after 'Ribbons of Rust' is a bit of a jolt. Hoisted out of the material history of the Beatles' first hit records, we're plunged into a psychological portrait of two men who, according to Leslie, fell in love, platonically, with each other. The evidence for this, he argues, is in the songs they wrote and co-wrote. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. This is a bold argument but one that incites curiosity. Leslie, a British journalist whose previous books focus on human psychology and creativity, is interested in other nonsexual but compelling aspects of romantic coupling: jealousy, fear of abandonment, competition, belittlement, private modes of communication, disappointment and grief. Examples of these emotions are found in the songs Leslie analyzes, and his explications, bolstered by historical and biographical information, make his book readable but also troubling. John and Paul: A Love Story in Songs Photo by Celadon / Celadon The foundation of John and Paul's friendship is well-known. As teenagers, both lost their mothers. Both loved rock-and-roll, played guitars and secretly wrote songs. Both were good singers, and both hated authority. Most important, both recognized the other's talent, which turned out to be a blessing and a curse. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Leslie is keen to demonstrate how certain songs deviate from standard songwriting practices in ways that yield psychological significance. Yes, the narrative of 'She Loves You' revolves around a 'friendship between boys,' but does that mean the singer is in love with the 'you' he is addressing? It's hard to say. Leslie is more astute regarding the use of 'you' in 'Help.' Given Paul's ability to calm John through difficult times, when John sings, 'Help me if you can,' it's plausible to think the 'you' he's calling out to is Paul instead of a female lover. But when Leslie asserts that Paul's behavior is the cause of John's anguished phrase 'I'm crying' in his song 'I Am the Walrus,' he strays too far. Too often Leslie makes interpretations to suit his own inclinations. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. No one would contest the psychological duel apparent in some of John's and Paul's post-Beatles songs. John's 'How Do You Sleep,' what Leslie calls a 'musical nail bomb,' is answered by Paul's 'Dear Friend,' an offering of truce. Leslie's later chapters grow in complexity and insight, just as John and Paul's songs did. 'Eleanor Rigby,' 'Strawberry Fields Forever,' 'Hey Jude,' 'Two of Us,' 'Get Back,' 'Jealous Guy' and 'Here Today' reflect how Paul and John's maturing friendship evolved both personally and creatively after 1965. The legal and personal difficulties during the Beatles' slow demise are also clearly represented. Leslie offers examples of unlikable qualities in both musicians. (I was astounded to learn, for instance, that in 1976, Paul, while touring with Wings, chose not to attend his father's funeral.) This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. Though the band dissolved, friendship between John and Paul, however truncated, remained. 'Ribbons of Rust' and 'John and Paul' remind us how rare a deeply personal and loving friendship between talented songwriters-singers is. The only other pair that comes to my mind is Donald Fagen and Walter Becker, a.k.a. Steely Dan. Now that I think about it, a book about Fagen and Becker as told through their songs was published recently, but perhaps sometimes it's best to just let it be. Sometimes a song is just a song. Sometimes a really good one can change the world. – – – Sibbie O'Sullivan, a former teacher in the Honors College at the University of Maryland, is the author of 'My Private Lennon: Explorations From a Fan Who Never Screamed.' – – – Ribbons of Rust The Beatles' Recording History In Context: Volume 1 – July 1954 Through January 1963 By Robert Rodriguez and Jerry Hammack. Bemis Publishing Group. 254 pp. $39.95, paperback – – – John & Paul A Love Story in Songs By Ian Leslie. Celadon. 448 pp. $32 Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances! Toronto & GTA Canada Tennis Canada Toronto & GTA
Washington Post
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Washington Post
How time, place and a fraught friendship made the Beatles the Beatles
John Lennon once defined himself as a 'record man' — he preferred listening to records over attending live performances. Though I saw the Beatles live in Ed Sullivan's studio, I have to agree with John: Records provide a repeatable pleasure that's often exclusively personal, a romance between the singer's voice and the listener's ear. Records are material, tangible and portable; they enter history in a way live performances can't.
Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
UK's richest street outside of London where homes cost a staggering £8million
The UK's most expensive street outside of London has been revealed as East Road in Weybridge, Surrey, where houses cost an eye-watering £8 million on average A recent study has unveiled the UK's most prestigious residential areas, showcasing staggering property prices nationwide. Although London continues to top the charts, with Kensington boasting an average house price of a whopping £21.4 million on one street, there are also areas of immense wealth beyond the capital. Outside of London, the priciest homes can be found on East Road in Weybridge, Surrey, situated within the exclusive St George's Hill gated community, according to data released by Lloyds Bank. The average home here now fetches an astounding £8 million, making it the most expensive street outside of London in the UK. This ultra-private estate is renowned for its high-profile residents and top security, contributing to its status as the most costly street beyond the capital. St George's Hill is a 964-acre private gated community consisting of approximately 450 luxury properties, with prices soaring up to £25 million. The area has been home to numerous celebrities and public figures, including Beatles icon John Lennon, Elton John, Cliff Richard, Ringo Starr, Sue Baker, golfer Nick Faldo, and Formula 1 champion Jenson Button, reports the Express. The estate provides a high-end lifestyle supported by premier amenities such as the St George's Hill Golf Club, designed in 1912 by Harry Colt, and the estate's Lawn Tennis Club, established in 1915, which boasts 13 grass courts and indoor options, along with a health club and spa. Access to the area is meticulously regulated through gated roads, with vigilant on-site staff and sophisticated automatic number plate recognition systems in place. In a 2023 feature, Country Life bestowed upon St George's Hill the title of "the safest place in Britain to buy a home". Home to an array of architectural marvels, St George's Hill boasts properties ranging from original Arts and Crafts-style Tarrant homes to modern mansions with Georgian or Queen Anne-style exteriors, some valued at tens of millions, complete with vast gardens and as many as ten bedrooms. The site holds historical significance, dating back to its origins as an Iron Age hillfort and later, in 1649, becoming notable for the Diggers' movement, led by Gerard Winstanley, who sought to establish the land for communal use. The estate as we know it began to emerge in 1911 when property developer Walter George Tarrant acquired the land, envisioning an exclusive retreat for affluent Londoners seeking countryside serenity. Tarrant's vision was to create a sanctuary that harmonised privacy, refined architecture and a lifestyle rich in leisure and sporting activities. St George's Hill doesn't just boast East Road; other prestigious addresses within the estate, such as Camp End Road (with an average price tag of £6.1 million), are also listed among the most expensive in the UK.
