John Lennon's sister rages over claims Beatles star wasn't loved

Oct 10 2008 by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Daily Post

Julia Baird, John Lennon's half-sister 200

JOHN LENNON’S sister has hit back at claims her brother was abandoned by their mother. Speaking on what would have been his 68th birthday, Julia Baird said she wasn’t happy about comments made in relation to a new film about John which said he was a “lonely teenager abandoned by his mother”.

Julia was in the city to open a new exhibition celebrating the life of John at the Beatles Story at Albert Dock.

Speaking yesterday, she said: “John is no longer around to defend himself from some of the bizarre, sordid and downright scurrilous rumours that still sadly surround his extraordinary life.

“It makes me so sad, especially in recent weeks, when all manner of accusations have been flying about.

“In 2007, I wrote a book, Imagine This, which was my attempt to tell the truth about John’s childhood.

“John was removed from our mother, Julia, at the age of five to live with his aunt Mimi. He was not abandoned nor was he unloved – despite what the accepted tale might be.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to reiterate once more the love our mother Julia had for both John and I.

“In the short time I had with her, she installed the deep love and spiritual strength which have let me go on and was an inspiration to brother John.

“I’m in no doubt that John felt the same.”