Family reflections on the Liverpool Lennons



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'Places I Remember'

Until April 2002 I had lived happily at 147 Dinas Lane, Liverpool for 12 years. This is the house where Paul McCartney's Aunt Gin and Uncle Harry lived. This is the house where the first colour photograph of the Beatles - John, Paul and George - was taken in the back room. Paul's 21st birthday party was also held here. At that bash Paul had a fight with Bob Wooler in the garden.

Because of the Beatles connection I had fans and tourists from every corner of the globe turn up on the doorstep. One day in 1996 a stranger, with a familiar face, rang the doorbell. He asked could he photograph the house and told me his aunt used to live here. I replied, "That must make you Mike McCartney ... Mike is it?" "Yes." he replied.

Mike then spent a few hours looking round the house, telling me the whole story of 147 Dinas Lane. It was fascinating. He said how the house had always been lucky. I had to agree, my luck had been tremendous in the time I lived there. Mike told me how Harry, Gin's husband, built the original stage in the Cavern Club. The only thing Mike never told me was what the Aintree Iron was! After lunch Mike left thanking me for my hospitality.

A month later a parcel arrived for me. It was a book from Mike called 'Thank U Very Much', his own book, which told the history of his family and friends and was full of pictures. Inside the front cover he wrote 'To our Andy and family. THANK U VERY MUCH for tea and sarnies at lucky 147 Dinas Lane.' Then he went on to say, 'Check out these pages for mentions and pictures of the house.' It included the first picture of the Beatles together and Paul's 21st.

Although I don't live at 147 Dinas Lane anymore I keep in touch with the new owners who confirm that the house is bringing them as much luck as it did me!

- Andy Hardwick

Lennon.Net footnote: Not wishing to trade on his brother Paul's fame, Mike McCartney went under the pseudonym, Mike McGear, for 18 years from the early 60s onwards. In the early sixties Mike teamed up with Roger McCough and John Gorman to form his own group, Scaffold, whose singles Thank U Very Much and Lily the Pink were Christmas hits in 1967 and 1968, reaching number four and number one respectively.

Mike has recorded with Paul and John Lennon, released two solo albums, published a children's book and is an accomplished professional photographer.