Francis Kenny - Understanding John Lennon

‘Liverpool is always on guard. They know that the English look up and over with suspicion and doubt, stumped by the language, needled by the snappy, mongrel confidence, outmanoeuvred by the fast logic-shredding wit. The city is also always wary at what might appear over the horizon, from the endless heavy sea, at what unknown force, for good or evil, might wash up on their vulnerable, open shore.’

Paul Morley, The North (And Almost Everything In It)

© Francis Kenny 2010

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the written permission of the publisher, Shepheard-Walwyn (Publishers) Ltd

First published in 2020 by

Shepheard-Walwyn (Publishers) Ltd

107 Parkway House, Sheen Lane,

London SW14 8LS

www.shepheard-walwyn.co.uk

British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data A catalogue record of this book is available from the British Library

ISBN 978-0-85683-532-2

Typeset by Fakenham Prepress Solutions, Fakenham, Norfolk NR21 8NL

Printed and bound in the United Kingdom by Short Run Press, Exeter

Contents

Foreword by Bill Harry

Milestones in the Life of John Lennon

Introduction

Chapter 1;1800s: City of Outsiders

Chapter 2;1900s: Toxteth Park

Chapter 3;1940–45: Salvation Army Hospita

Chapter 4;1946–50: Wandsworth Jail

Chapter 5;1950–55: Mendips

Chapter 6;1955–57: Town and Country

Chapter 7;1957–60: Hope Street

Chapter 8;1960–61: The Wyvern Club

Chapter 9;1961–62: Great Charlotte Street

Chapter 10;1961–62: The Grapes

Chapter 11;1963–64: Liverpool Town Hall

Chapter 12;1964: Hansel and Gretel House

Chapter 13;1965: Perugia Way

Chapter 14;1965–66: Candlestick Park

Chapter 15;1966–67: Cavendish Avenue

Chapter 16;1967–68: Foothills of the Himalayas

Chapter 17;1968: Abbey Road

Chapter 18;1969: Savile Row

Chapter 19;1969 (Part 2): Tittenhurst

Chapter 20;1970–71: Dakota Building

Epilogue

Endnotes

Bibliography

Interviews

Useful Websites

Foreword by Bill Harry

JOHN LENNON could only have been born in Liverpool and Francis Kenny certainly provides an answer ‘why’ in this book, analysing John’s life and what made John Lennon become John Lennon.

It was due not only to the times John lived through and was born into, but the thread that wound throughout the city’s history, including its Celtic heritage, due to its existence as one of the greatest ports in the world.

Capturing history before it fades and disappears forever is difficult because even recent history has its many different aspects, seen from different points of view, which often distort the reality of events. However, dedicated research often continues to uncover facts which have been contrary to events that really happened, such as the fact that John was never born during a heavy air raid, which so many previous books have contended.

This isn’t a roller-coaster ride, skipping through John’s life, but a carefully prepared examination of his early years, slowly examining the general picture that surrounded John’s life, rather than focusing on one specific aspect, wrapping the surroundings of the city, the family, the friends, the music and the events which forged the young man who became a 20 th-century icon into a whole.

Some of the conclusions in John’s personal story might prove controversial because time and the passing of many of the main characters, including John himself, leave us with no option but to analyse what has previously been said and documented, taking into consideration the different viewpoints made at the time.

Early in 1960 John Lennon, Stuart Sutcliffe, Rod Murray and I formed The Dissenters, whose aim was to make Liverpool famous! We figured that Liverpool had more than its fair share of musicians, writers, comedians, artists and sculptors. We four would attempt to do this in our various ways – John with his music, Stuart and Rod with their painting and me with my writing. (A plaque, made by my art school friend Fred O’Brien, dedicated to the place where we made our vow is to be found in Ye Cracke, Rice Street.)

Francis Kenny is another example of what we were aiming to achieve – to put the light on creative people from the city. He was born in the Toxteth area of the city and left school with no qualifications, worked for 15 years in the construction industry and then entered a vacuum of unemployment before attending Coleg Harlech, an adult residential college in North Wales, where he achieved a Diploma in Political Philosophy and Economics. This was followed by a period at Liverpool University where he completed a BA Honours in Economics and Politics and Sociology. He also qualified as a teacher after completing a Postgraduate Course in Education at Bolton University. He then completed MAs in Urban Regeneration at Hope University and Screen Writing at Liverpool John Moores University.

Francis began writing 15 years ago and has penned a dozen screenplays, a novel, Waiting For the Beatles and a crime novel, All I Ever Wanted , among other works, including a stage play.

Francis was to tell me that his book ‘aims to present a “below the surface” alternative view of John’s creative and emotional make-up’.

This work is now endorsed by a former Dissenter. Read, enjoy and learn.

Regards,

Bill Harry, Founder of Mersey Beat 1

__________________

1Bill Harry was born in Liverpool and attended Liverpool Art College where he met and became good friends with John Lennon and Stuart Sutcliffe. While at college, Bill developed an interest in journalism which led to his founding of Mersey Beat magazine, whose first print run of 5,000 copies came out on 9 November 1961 and was an instant sellout. The magazine included articles and band dates, and became a treasure trove of information to all those interested in the rock ’n’ roll scene on Merseyside.

Bill’s role in the ‘birth of The Beatles’ was crucial, not only in his support in Mersey Beat but also through his relationship with Brian Epstein via the selling of his magazine in Brian’s family music store NEMS, and later encouraging Brian to attend a Beatles gig.

As the success of The Beatles took on global proportions, Bill partnered up with Brian to produce a national music paper, The Disc & Music Echo . As the 1960s drew to a close, Bill moved into PR and came to represent some of the biggest music artists around, including David Bowie, Led Zeppelin and Pink Floyd.

Bill is the author of over two dozen books, most of these publications dealing with John and The Beatles.

Milestones in the life of Joh n Lennon

1940John born on 9 October to Julia and Freddie Lennon in war-torn Liverpool.

1941John lives in Newcastle Road, Liverpool with his mother and maternal grandparents.

1942John’s seafaring father Freddie is still away at sea.

1943Julia begins a relationship with a Welsh soldier stationed in Liverpool, Taffy Williams.

1944Julia gives birth to a girl (Victoria) with Williams the father; the child was given up for adoption.

1945Julia and John move in with Bobby Dykins.

1946Due to the intervention by Social Services over the common-law living arrangements of Julia and Bobby, John goes to live with Julia’s sister Mimi and her husband George at Mendips in the Liverpool suburb of Woolton.