Liverpool Life: Growing up in the glare of the spotlight

Apr 14 2008 by Peter Elson, Liverpool Daily Post

Liverpool’s past lives are revived once more through an evocative collection of photographs of people and places. Peter Elson reports

THEY’RE not four lads who shook the world. In fact, they probably never even shook their school, although doubtless their families loved them very much.

But back at Grenville Street primary school in 1970, the full Beatles line-up is faithfully replicated during break in the natural amphitheatre of the playground.

And, as if waiting for the non-existent Top of the Pops camera to swing round to him, after the Fab Four’s fade-out, is Grenville Street’s own Bob Dylan wannabe, sitting alone with his imaginary mouth-organ.

There’s even an appreciative audience of their fellow pupils seated horse-shoe style in this atmospheric photograph from the new Liverpool Daily Post & Echo book, Liverpool Life.

Colin Hunt, who has compiled, edited and captioned the 150 or so digitally-remastered pictures from the newspapers’ library, believes that anyone who takes time to study these photographs will be richly rewarded.

“This particular picture of Grenville Street Primary is such a great composition. You look at the boys on the concrete dais and you suddenly recognise the stance they’ve adopted.

“These lads are the Beatles, their whole bearing and the way the line-up is formed, perfectly caught at this moment.

“In the foreground, there is another mini-drama going on as a young girl looks up, slightly timidly, to a confident older-looking boy standing in profile,” says Colin.

“You can’t help wonder about the story behind her awestruck expression and his nonchalant pose.

“Looming over all this drama is a street of splendid Liverpool Georgian houses, practical, but full of character and behind them is the magnificent bulk of the Anglican Cathedral tower.

“To me this sums up what I was trying to do with the book. Its predecessor, Liverpool Then, was very popular and when we discussed doing volume two, I was keen to attempt something different.

“I thought rather than have a history picture book about place, let’s make it about people instead.

“At risk of sounding pretentious, my idea was that the book is a piece of theatre and in theatre the place becomes a backdrop with the people the players.” To Colin’s satisfaction this has already resulted in appreciation shown by people who do not originally come from Liverpool – including his wife. “She comes from the Midlands and relates to what is in this book, although it makes it more special for those from Merseyside who recognise specific locations, many of which have gone,” says Colin.

His original concept was to track the lives of people from cradle to grave, with the familiar landmarks of school, marriage and parenthood. “I rapidly dropped this as, of course, the material you have available dictates your choices. However, I think the outcome is better as it’s less obvious.

“Also, different pictures tell you whether they should be used big or small. There’s nothing worse than cramming a panoramic view or one packed with detail into a small space for the sake of it.”

Some themes did survive, such as that of childhood, which is practically unavoidable in such a selection.

“No matter how bad things were at times, thankfully childhood is perceived as carefree for most people when they look back to their early years.

“I hope my words help with readers reaching back to feel what it was like growing up.”