Daily readers help Beatles author

A Manchester author looking for fans who witnessed performances by The Beatles in Exeter has been overwhelmed by the response from Daily readers.

Richard Houghton called on the Daily to help him track down gig goers who saw any the Fab Four’s ABC shows in March 1963, October 1963 and October 1964 for a ‘people’s history’ of the group.

Richard Houghton said:  ‘I’ve had several readers get in touch with some great memories of the three visits The Beatles made to the ABC.’

Amongst those who contacted Richard are Lyn Hope who remembers:

‘I was a pupil at the Maynard School in the 1960s and we went up to the ABC after school one day in full school uniform and asked a policeman standing outside if the Beatles had arrived yet.  He looked us up and down and said “I should have thought girls like you would know better!”  It is astonishing to think how the Beatles were viewed then, they look so neat and well dressed.  Even the newsagent where I ordered the Beatles Book every month told my mother he was surprised she bought it for me!’

Chris Gale said:

‘I saw the Beatles twice in Exeter. The first time I think they were third on the bill to Chris Montez and Tommy Roe.  The second time they topped the bill.  My worst memory is that my mother binned their autographs.’

Tim Tree also saw The Beatles twice and recalls:

‘On the 1964 performance they were on with Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers, who used to mimic other groups.  And the lights went down and the curtains drew across and the tune to Twist And Shout started, sounding exactly like the record.  The girls went screaming mad because they thought The Beatles were on.  And then the lights came up and the curtain went back and they saw it was Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers and it all went quiet!’

Richard said:  'These Beatle memories are a fantastic insight into the past and I’m delighted to have received so many stories.  I’ve now received more than 300 stories from around the world and these will be appearing in print along with any others I receive later in 2016."

Richard is the author of You Had To Be There:  The Rolling Stones Live 1962 – 69 which is available from www.gottahavebooks.co.uk

You can still share your Beatle memories with Richard at thebeatlesinthe60s@gmail.com or write to him at 7 Hartley Road, Manchester, M21 9NG.