Ex-Beatles urged to help save their fan club

Mar 24 2008

THE founder of a group dedicated to the Fab Four has called on Ringo Starr and Sir Paul McCartney to thank them and save them from closure.

The Liverpool Beatles Appreciation Society is celebrating 30 years but will close unless new volunteers are found.

Founder John James Chambers said it was time the former Beatle members gave official recognition to the group and thanked them for their tireless Beatle campaigns.

Mr Chambers added: “We need a rallying call from the remaining Beatles to give their seal of approval because the society might fold up and die.

“We need them to show their appreciation and recog-nition for all the good work that we’ve done and the fans’ loyalty over the years. There has been a wall of silence.”

The voluntary group led the csuccessful Beatles Monument Campaign to rename roads in Kensington after John, Ringo, George and Paul in 1982 and to have a statue to the Fab Four put inside Cavern Walks in 1984.

Their current campaign is to have roads renamed after their manager,, the late Brian Epstein, the late Stuart Sutcliffe and former Beatles drummer Pete Best.

They also hope all three can be awarded Freedom of the City titles.

Mr Chambers said: ”I can’t believe Liverpool City Council are snubbing our current campaign.

“I have been told by the council the streets can’t be named because of safety issues and the emergency services would get confus- ed over duplicated names.

“But they mean Sutcliffe Street and Peter Street which have nothing to do with the Beatles.

“We want streets named as Stuart Sutcliffe Street and Brian Epstein Close for example. They did it once and I’m sure it could happen again.

with another new- build developer looking for street names.

“They also say they can’t give Freedom of the City posthumously but they did to John Lennon.

He added: “This is such an important year for Liverpool and we should be doing more for the Beatles.

“It would be a shame for the voluntary society to close when we still have things we want to achieve for the people of Liverpool.

“We need help from anyone who can spare a few hours a week and we could really do with someone who has access to a computer and IT knowledge.”

ANYONE wishing to join the group can contact Mr Chambers on 0151 256 1924.