THE MOSSLEY HILL COMMUNITY AND THE YELLOW SUBMARINE THAT WAS USED TO PROMOTE 1968´ BEATLES FILM

The Mossley Hill community came together to reunite Arthur Johnson with the yellow submarine that was used to promote 1960’s Beatles film

The yellow submarine that was used to promote the 1960s Beatles film of the same name has been reunited with its builder in a heartwarming ceremony on Penny Lane.

The Mossley Hill community came together to reunite 75 year-old Arthur Johnson, a welder and boiler maker by trade (from Grimsby), with the yellow submarine that he built in his back garden in the 1960s.

Arthur was a keen sub aqua enthusiast and worked as a welder on the rigs in the North Sea.

Paula Johnson,Arthur Johnson and the Greenbank School Choir

He also built a one-man sub for Colonel Gaddafi.

Arthur, his wife Paula and family, were invited to Penny Lane to unveil a plaque to honour his iconic submarine.

The sub appeared at the world premier of The Beatles film Yellow Submarine at The London Pavilion, London, in July 1968 and now lives at the Penny Lane Development Trust, where the ceremony took place.

Arthur was joined by his family, along with Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Tony Concepcion, and the children from Greenbank School Choir who serenaded visitors with their version of Yellow Submarine. Tesco workers from the Allerton Road store provided food.

The sub was named ‘Resurgam’ which in Latin means “I will rise again”.

Julie Gornell, centre manager for the Penny Lane Development Trust, said: “It has been my absolute pleasure assisting Arthur Johnson and his family to be reunited with his beloved yellow submarine. It was a perfect day in every way with community groups and local businesses coming together to make it all happen, even the sun stayed out for the day!”

Resurgam was sold to an insurance firm in 1983 for £1,500 and was situated at the Albert Dock for a number of years before it was later acquired by the Penny Lane Development Trust.

They were contacted by Jacky Aisthorpe, an activities facilitator at Cranwell Court care home in Grimsby, where Arthur receives treatment for Alzheimer’s. Jacky had listened to many of Arthur’s memories of The Beatles premiere – because reminiscing is a very important way to engage with a person with dementia. Jacky commented: “Arthur came in to day care yesterday and he can remember that he went to see his submarine, the family have been talking about it all weekend.

“Paula was thrilled and was so happy Arthur was calm and engaged all the time he was there.”

The famous submarine is now viewed by hundreds of people each week at the Penny Lane Development Trust, 70 Penny Lane.