The Beatles at The Aintree Institute, Liverpool

Here I am looking onto a parcel of waste land which will probably be built on when I pass by in a few years. It's the former site of the stout red-brick Aintree Institute and The Beatles played here 31 times over 1961 and 1962.

It’s not far from the famous racecourse (which hosts the annual Grand National horse race) and in the 1960s it was a popular jive club. It was built in 1890s thanks to Sir William Hartley, the jam magnate (I’ve been to his grave and link is here : http://johnhalley.uk/Grave%20-%20Sir%20William%20Hartley.htm). He was a rich religious man with and offered what equates to £65-£70k towards a project that would help Roman Catholic Church and the Church of England fight evils in modern society. Over the years it's been used by the Aintree Photographic Society as a club house and exhibition venue. During World War two black people weren't allowed inside after a shooting and stabbing involving some drunken black American soldiers.

In the 1960 it was used for jive dances and The Beatles - then sometimes called "The Dynamic Beatles" - started off the evening with a few songs. Nobody knew how successful they'd become and in 1961/2 they were still knitting together. Brian Epstein became their manager in January 1962 and he influenced them to tightened up their act and appearance. The gigs were loud and lively and sometime chairs were thrown across the audience or onto the stage. For the final gig the lads were paid a total £15 (about £300 now.) However Brian Epstein was furious when the payment was made in loose change - so furious he ensured the lads never played there again.

In recent years the building had been used by the local Catholic church Blessed Sacrament as a meeting place. Sadly the council decided to demolish it without any consultation with the locals and it was demolished in 2007. You can see it being demolished here : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lASA_HJP3H4

I parked in the Tesco car park across the road and took some photographs. There was a Covid-inspired queue snaking the door and people must have wondered what I was doing taking such an interest in a bit of wasteland. I did the usual saluting and pointing. A small girl pushing a pram with dolls in it stopped and asked her dad what “that man was doing?” I should have told her I was pointing at invisible aliens but I had many graves to find that day and didn’t want to get caught up in conversation.

I'm not sure why this building was ripped down as there seemed to be plenty of older buildings around. Perhaps it needed thousands of pounds spending on it or the council considered it dangerous and prone damaged from to strong winds. I'll probably drive by in a few years and there'll be another dreadful fast-food outlet there. I did a salute and left and a man stuck at a red light saluted back.