An honorary membership of the Beatles Fan Club presented to a
four-year-old boy by the pop legends is expected to fetch thousands of
pounds at auction this weekend.
Beatles-mad toddler Russell Jamieson came to the attention of the Fab
Four after running away from home to join the band in the summer of
1963.
The young fan even gave his name as Russell Beatle when he was found by a police officer wandering the streets of Liverpool.
Russell, from nearby Kirkby, was safely returned home but the story
of his escapade reached the attention of John, Paul, George and Ringo,
who had fan club secretary Anne Collingham send him an honorary
membership of the organisation.
The card is one of the highlights at a Beatles memorabilia auction taking place on Saturday.
The autographed card is thought to be the only honorary membership
ever awarded by the fan club and was addressed "To Russell - our
youngest Fan Club member".
It comes with a letter from Ms Collingham which said: "At the special
request of John, George, Paul and Ringo I have much pleasure in
inviting you to become an honorary member of the Official Beatles Fan
Club.
"I am enclosing your membership card and a couple of special
photographs which I am sure you will want to add to your collection."
Mr Jamieson, who is now 53 and lives near Oslo, Norway, said:
Ringo Starr was my hero and I desperately wanted to meet him.
My father worked at the Vauxhall factory and made me a jacket with the off-cuts from seat covers.
The name Ringo was emblazoned across it and I would pick up a guitar and perform for anybody who would listen.
He said that after he was taken home by the police there was a story
in the Liverpool Daily Post newspaper which was seen by the band and a
few weeks later the letter from Ms Collingham arrived.
His memorabilia is expected to fetch up to £7,500.
He said: "I am thrilled there is so much interest in my collection of memorabilia.
"They were magical and wonderful days which I will never forget."
The annual sale, part of the Beatles Convention in Liverpool this
weekend, is attracting huge levels of interest, the organisers said.
It was 50 years ago this week that Ringo replaced Pete Best as the drummer and the final Fab Four line-up was complete.
Stephen Bailey, manager of the Liverpool Beatles Shop, which is staging the auction,said:
"We don't know of any other honorary members of the Official Fan Club
so it's a remarkable story and there's bound to be great interest in the
auction of the membership card."
Other lots in the auction include a rare ticket for the Beatles' last
performance at the Cavern Club - on Saturday, August 3 1963.
The ticket, which originally cost 9/6, is expected to fetch around £7,000.
Beatles is the most well known singing group in there generation like what my father said. They are all brilliant and one of a kind singers. I will give this post to my father. Big thanks for sharing this.
ReplyDeleteCharles | condo manila
Thanks so much Charles, exactly they are all brillant. Cheers to you & your father.
ReplyDelete