Beatles the early years page 10

 Beatles the early years page 10 by ric gustafson

In the summer of 1954, John and three friends hung out in Calderstones Park. Girls were not invited. But a lot of them came around looking for John. John and his friends were listening to songs by Frankie Laine and Johnnie Ray. At this time, John was secretly starting to see his mother again. He kept the visits a secret from Mimi.

In 1954, John was having trouble in school. John was drawing cartoons and passing them around the classroom. Richy Starkey also avoided school as much as possible. At Dingle Vale, Richy had a long walk to school. Every day walking on Park Road, Richy stopped in front of a music store. In the window was a tom tom drum. The drum was expensive. All Richy could do was stop and stare at it. In May or June 1954, Richy fell seriously ill again. This time it was pleurisy. He spent ten weeks at the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital. Then his illness became TB. Richy was sent to the hospital's convalescence outpost in Heswall. While there, a music teacher gave Richy a pair of drumsticks. He was hooked.

research help: ' Tune In' by Mark Lewisohn

Peace and God's blessings. Love Ric