A plaque has been unveiled outside the birthplace of The Beatles manager Brian Epstein.
The memorial to commemorate Epstein, who guided the world renowned rock band to stardom after spotting them at the Mathew Street-based Cavern Club back in 1961, has been placed outside 4 Rodney Street where he was born in 1934.
Beatles fan and qualified tour guide, Marie Darwin, organised the memorial and successfully earned support from Liverpool John Moores University and Liverpool City Council to gain planning permission for the memorial to honour Epstein, who died in 1967 aged 32.
She told JMU Journalism: “I’m getting choked up now just talking about it, it was a lovely day and we were there until about 9pm. Now that I am reflecting on it, it really hits home that it’s up there but, for me, although I did organise it, I didn’t want my name on it as it’s for Brian.
“I have been a big Beatles fan since I was four and my early memories were taking books about them into school to read. For me, Brian is the fifth Beatle and while everybody worldwide knows John, Paul, George and Ringo, not everybody knows Brian and what he done.”
She added: “Brian got them to the top of the ladder and why shouldn’t he have a plaque in his home city? For me, he was a visionary. He fought and fought and he had that vision as he knew how good they were.”
While this plaque is the first official one in Liverpool, there is one based at Epstein’s first London office on Monmouth Street at Seven Dials in London.
Darwin, who resides in Huyton, was also quick to pay tribute to those who helped her launch the plaque, which was originally planned in March last year for what would have been Epstein’s 80th birthday in September.
“While I was the organiser of the plaque, I couldn’t have done it alone and I must thank Colette Glanvill from Liverpool John Moores. Every time I spoke to her she was there with support. The same goes for Wendy Brown from the city council,” she continued.
“I’d also like to thank Jeanette O’Brien for little things, such as letting me have time off from work to meet George Gardner from Liverpool John Moores.”
As well as The Beatles, pop impresario Epstein also managed famed Liverpool band Gerry and the Pacemakers, singer Cilla Black and a host of other Merseyside acts.