On 27th June, I was honoured to be invited to the opening of the new Sir George and Lady Judy Martin Rose Garden at Strawberry Field, Liverpool.
There were many special guests there, including George and Judy’s son Giles and daughter Lucy, John’s sister Julia Baird who is honorary President at Strawberry Field, Lady Anne Dodd, Ken Dodd’s widow, Beatles Fan Club Secretary Freda Kelly and Cliff Cooper, CEO of Orange Amps, who has donated the garden.
Giles gave a short, but moving, speech saying how Strawberry Field is a place of nurture for those young people in the Steps to Work program, and how his father nurtured The Beatles in the same way. His mother, Judy, was one of the first honorary Presidents at Strawberry Field with Julia Baird.
The garden consists of a wall with a dedication to George Martin’s contribution to The Beatles and music in general.
There is also a fountain as the centre-piece, and a celebration of the famous records he had produced.
Giles and Lucy then planted a rose in the garden for their parents.
I then had the pleasure of talking to both Giles and Lucy, and I could tell them how I had met their mother at Strawberry Field at the groundbreaking ceremony many years ago, and I was talking with her for nearly 20 minutes. What a lovely lady she was.
It was a great privilege to be there for this historic day and to celebrate two incredible people who played such an important part in Beatles history, and for there finally be a permanent tribute to George Martin.
What if The Beatles never worked with Goerge Martin? Can you imagine that? It is one of 70 scenarios in my latest book, The Beatles: What If? Get your copy now. What do you think? There are 70 key moments in Beatles history that could have worked out differently. See if you agree!
FInd out more about Strawberry Field here https://www.strawberryfield.salvationarmy.org.uk/
