21 Days in the UK

I traveled for 21 Days in the UK, collecting interviews and photos for articles I was doing for Beatleology, BeatleBrunch radio show, and a newspaper called Spectator. I was fortunate to be able to travel with 2 special friends, Barb and Judy. It was truly the trip of a lifetime. I hope you enjoy the photos I'm sharing.

Marlyebone Registry... here's where Paul married Linda.

Street musicians perform with the Thames and the London skyline as a backdrop.

Gettin' friendly with the lads at the Rock & Roll Wax Museum in London. A great place for fun!

We had a fantastic time at the musical, Buddy! Don't miss it if you're in London. The cast hangs out at the pub across the street and will gladly sign autographs.

The White Cliffs of Dover have tunnels & doors in them that were used by the British during the war.

Here's a beautiful old church in Peasmarsh where Mary was married.

The church had a wonderful peaceful feeling. I took the opportunity to pray in silence.

Beautiful stained glass highlighted the altar.

Sheep were everywhere over the Rye hills.

Here's the mill where Paul and his many guests make music. It sits up on a hill and you can see it for miles.

You can barely see the blades of the mill from this view.

Paul and John first played on stage with the Quarrymen at this club, The Conservative Men's Club.

John is the lucky Beatles fan who got the job of living in Paul McCartney's house at 20 Faorthlin Rd. He said it took 6 months to get the courage to sleep in Paul's bed at night.

The iron gate is opened wide so you can see the home for orphans.

Frank, a Liverpool resident, has met Paul many times. He is showing a painting that reminds him of Paul as a lad as well as an autographed apple clock. Frank said that once on a New Year's Eve he and Paul had their daughers with them when they pulled their respective cars up to the same stoplight. They rolled down their windows, introduced thier daughers, and wished each other a happy New Year, then went on their ways.

An English family that we had previously met at the Dakota in NY invited us for a garden party in Liverpool. All their relatives came too, and we exchanged ideas in their beautiful garden in the Dingle section, close to where Ringo went to school.

We met Dave at Litherland Towm Hall when tribute bands played to benefit the Linda McCartney Career Centre. He invited us to his flat to see a video of another tribute band. His section of Liverpool has all the streets named after the Beatles. Dave used to play with the Beatles on stage in the Liverpool clubs.

In spite of his cancer, Dave is a master of martial arts (see patch on shirt) and was brave to complete the walk for Linda McCartney's fund to fight cancer from Liverpool to London. If you'd like to send his a congratulatory card or a donation to the Linda McCartney cancer centre, the address is:
Dave Williams
The Big Apple
John Lennon Drive
Kensington
Liverpool 7
Merseyside
UK

This lovely sight is taking place just outside the Liverpool Church where Eleanor Rigby's headstone sits.

The huge concrete block on the green carpet fell off the Adelphi Hotel in the spot where we had stood the day before, waiting for a cab. Near the orange cones, you can see the indention in the sidewalk.

Margaret who lives in Ringo's old house welcomes people to come inside. She gave me permission to take a few photos for my article.

This is the view that young Richard Starkey would have had as he sat on his bed drumming and dreaming of the fame he would someday experience.

Here is the tiny sunroom that John and Paul were given to practice in at Mendies, Mimi's house.

Inside the sunroom... imagine the music soaked up by these walls!

English gardens provide a bounty of gorgeous flowers. Does this pose remind you of a famous Beatles photo?

Paul's house on Cavendish.

What would London be without a tube ride?

The zebra crossing outside Abbey Road Studios has extremely busy traffic, but crossings do occur.

John Lennon, a Liverpool lad who changed his name to honor his hero, stands outside a house that Paul and his family lived in when Paul was young.

Jackie from live@pool tours welcomes Len Garry who was joining the tour at a garden party in Calderstone Park.

Rori, a student who graduated from LIPA on July 21, prepares to play her bass guitar. She has had master classes from Paul McCartney and told us many stories.