Beatles-themed events at Fort Perch Rock and Tower Ballroom grounds to mark 50 years since the super group played in New Brighton

Nov 16 2011 by Lorna Hughes, Birkenhead News

A DAY of Beatles-themed events on Sunday will mark 50 years since the super group played at the Tower Ballroom in New Brighton.

Fans flocked to the ballroom on November 10, 1961, for the show organised by promoter Sam Leach.

A second performance two weeks later on November 24 set a new UK mainland attendance record for a Beatles show, with around 4,300 fans packing into the venue.

The Merseybeat Story at Fort Perch Rock on Marine Promenade is celebrating the dates with a series of events.

Beatles historian Ray O’Brien will conduct a New Brighton Beatles tour which will end at the site of the Tower Ballroom at 1pm.

The Mayor of Wirral Cllr Moira McLaughlin and Sam Leach will also unveil a council-funded plaque which acknowledges that the Beatles played at the venue 27 times.

The tour is free – meet at the entrance to Fort Perch Rock for 11am.

Fort Perch Rock then opens at noon with an exhibition of Beatles posters by the original artist Tony Booth.