St Peters Church in Woolton, South Liverpool, is the unlikely setting for the first meeting between John Lennon and Paul McCartney, who went on to become the world's most famous singers and songwriters.
On Saturday 6th July 1957, a 15 year old Paul cycled from his Allerton home to St Peters garden fete. He had been invited by his classmate Ivan Vaughan, to watch The Quarry Men, a skiffle group for whom Ivan was playing the tea chest bass for, perform in a field behind the church.
The band was made up of John Lennon (vocals, guitar), Eric Griffiths (guitar), Colin Hanton (drums), Rod Davies (banjo), Pete Shotton (washboard) and Len Garry (tea chest bass).
Paul watched them sing their way through the likes of Railroad Bill, Be Bop A Lula and Maggie May and was mightily impressed even though John stumbled his way through the words of every song and had to improvise his lyrics.
Afterwards at the church hall across the road, Ivan introduced Paul to the rest of the band, including John.
Paul demonstrated how he could play Twenty Flight Rock and other songs from his repertoire and not only did he know all of the words off by heart, but he could play proper chords and tune a guitar, a skill that impressed John.
Paul later recalled their first meeting:
"I remember this beery old man getting nearer and nearer and breathing down my neck as I was playing. 'What's this old drunk doing?' I thought. Then he said Twenty Flight Rock was one of his favourites so I knew he was a connoisseur. It was John. He'd just had a few beers. He was 16 and I was just turned 15, so he was a big man. I remember him in a checked shirt and slightly curly hair and I thought 'He looks good - I wouldn't mind being in a group with him."
Paul McCartney on meeting John Lennon:
John Lennon on meeting Paul McCartney:
Although John later admitted that he had decided that day he wanted Paul to join The Quarry Men it was a week or so before a message was finally sent to Paul to ask 'D'ya wanna join me group?'
Paul made his debut with The Quarry Men on 18 October 1957.
Address for St Peters Church:
26 Church Rd, Liverpool L25 5JF
Directions on public transport from Liverpool City Centre:
Go to Cumberland Street (Stop VD)
Board the 78 bus towards Halewood
Alight at Hillside Drive
St Peter's Church is approx 6 minutes walk away.