Plaque unveiled to mark Beatles connection in New Brighton

21st November 2011

From Liverpool Daily Post

Pictured above is The Beatles plaque in New Brighton, marking 50 years since the Beatles played at New Brighton’s former Tower Ballroom has been unveiled by Sam Leach, the man who brought the famous band to the venue.
The Beatles played at the venue 27 times and even performed to their largest audience in mainland Britain there during their early days.
Doug Darroch, curator of the Merseybeat Museum at Fort Perch Rock, said the event had “exceeded all our expectations”.
Mr Darroch added: “We had people from all over the country come along, and it’s been a great day all round.
“It was very successful. Sam Leach, who first brought the Beatles to the Tower Ballroom was here, and it was good to see him unveil the plaque.”
 The unveiling was part of events to mark 50 years since the first Beatles show at the New Brighton venue on November 10 1961, when Sam Leach first presented the band, followed by a second show two weeks later on November 24 which is a UK mainland attendance record for a Beatles show, estimated by Mr Darroch at 4,500.
The day also included a “Merseybeat” tour of New Brighton led by Beatles historian Ray O’Brien.

The Tower Ballroom, named for its once famous tower modelled on Paris’ Eiffel Tower, was built in the late nineteenth century, but later dismantled after a period of neglect due to the first World War.

However, the ballroom itself – reputedly one of the largest in the world – remained a popular venue, with many famous names, such as The Rolling Stones, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis and local bands like Gerry and the Pacemakers – as well as the Beatles – appearing there until a fire led to its destruction in 1969.

The area where it once stood, now known as the Tower Grounds, shows little sign of the impressive structure which once stood there.

The tour was followed by the Merseybeat Story at Fort Perch Rock featuring BBC TV star Paul Hayes and his band, The Collection. Topping the bill was The Dominoes, and the day was compered by Harry Prytherch with Sam Leach also in attendance.

Mr Darroch said: “The Tower Ballroom has an illustrious musical history and the connection between Wirral and the Beatles has been underplayed for too long.

“So with people coming even from Cornwall for this, it has been a huge success.”

Afterwards, Mr Darroch also paid tribute to Wirral Council who financed the plaque and installed it, and Wirral’s mayor, Cllr Moira McLaughlin, who attended the event.

Cllr McLaughlin said: “I am delighted that, 50 years on from those early shows in New Brighton, the connection between The Beatles and Wirral is being formally acknowledged. While the Cavern Club has become synonymous as the spiritual home of The Beatles, many Wirral residents readily recall the shows they witnessed at places like Tower Grounds, Hulme Hall and the Majestic Ballroom in Birkenhead.”