Lennon picture unearthed after nearly half a century

Oct 3 2007 by Alan Weston, Liverpool Daily Post

Rare John Lennon picture

A LONG-LOST photograph of a teenage John Lennon will be shown on TV tonight.

The picture of a 17-year-old Lennon was found during a year-long search by a BBC documentary team and remaining members of The Quarrymen, the group that went on to become the Beatles.

Pictured with Lennon in the photograph, taken in Lime Street, is Nigel Walley, The Quarrymen’s former manager.

Mr Walley now lives in Clacton and was brought up to Liverpool to be re-united with the photograph he had not seen since 1958.

He said: “It’s fantastic, really great. I can’t believe how good it is, it’s much better than I expected.” The photograph was kept locked away in a cupboard for many years by a Beatles collector, who wants to remain anonymous.

Rod Davis, who played guitar and banjo for The Quarrymen, said: “It’s an incredible discovery because this photo has not been seen for nearly the last 50 years. It’s been locked away and forgotten about.

“What’s so great about this photo is John was just a face in the crowd, but even then it’s the Lennon I knew. You can see in his face, I think, he knew he was something special even then.”

The photograph will be shown on BBC One’s Inside Out North West programme at 7.30pm tonight.