Retracing George Harrison, a fan's account - If you know where you are going, these roads will take you there

(Olivia Anne Morris Fuchs attended this year's International Beatleweek in Liverpool and visited Henley-on-Thames and the Bhaktivedanta Manor. This is her account along with videos and pictures she sent along. Thanks, Olivia!)

Every Beatles Fan I've ever met dreams of going to Liverpool, UK, and attending International Beatleweek. I was so fortunate as to do that in 2017; however, the reason I planned that trip did not come to fruition until 2018. So, I planned Liverpool #2 for 2018. 

First stop was a brief tour of London proper; then, a train into Henley on Thames, and George's Friar Park. George used to walk down the hill from Friar Park to the Row Barge Inn to enjoy a pint and to jam into the night with friends. It is a lovely little 16th century pub in a special little village. Now, it is a bed and breakfast run by Cath and Joe Miller who welcome you like family. (Save yourself money by booking directly with them at info@therowbarge.com) The Row Barge Inn, West Street, Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire, RG9 2ED. Their dinner is wonderful and their Full English Breakfast is as good as I found any place in my travels.

Up the hill from The Row Barge Inn, an easy walk, is the entrance to George's Friar Park. The Friar Park gates are so lovely as to merit a trip on their own. Friar Park still is an active part of Henley-on-Thames. Each trip I made up to Friar Park found someone coming or going. It still is beautifully maintained and lovely to see. The folks at Henley-on-Thames are very protective of Friar Park and those who still count it home, Olivia and Dhani. Having said that, apparently Cath and Joe had done a good job of letting the locals know I was coming to stay for a bit. Every place I went in the village, I was greeted with "you must be the American Girl who loves George," and my name, and a story. That was just lovely.

Sacha Wingard maintains a flat fee London Cab service; he has become my friend. He met me at Heathrow, and had to wait for me for two hours to clear customs. We visited spots in London I asked to see again; then, he delivered me to the train to Henley-on-Thames. The next day, Sacha fetched me from The Row Barge Inn to take me to Bhaktivedanta Manor, the Krishna Temple in Aldenham. Later, we went

back to London; next day he dropped me at the airport for my flight to Manchester. You may find him on Facebook. No amount of praise is sufficient for Sacha. He will make your travels easy; now knows my favorite "George" spots; he is so reasonable; and you will feel so safe while in his company. He's the real deal.

Sacha had saved a few gifts from his last trip to Bhaktivedanta Manor for me, and had mentioned when he was there that I'd be visiting in August. The Communications Director of Bhaktivedanta Manor, Radha Mohan das, greeted me upon arrival and welcomed me to join him on a private tour. We visited the
private quarters of the founder, His Divine Grace Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada, a very special friend of George over the years. You may recall that before he died, Prabhupada removed the ring from his hand and gave it to his closest Krishna confidants to deliver to George. George wore it the rest of his days. When Dhani helped me select my own ring to commemorate that one, he confirmed that he has the ring still, and loves it, as well. 

Radha Mohan das took me on a special tour of the memorial garden at Bhaktivedanta Manor which had been made to honor George for his gift to the Krishnas of the Temple, itself. It is lovely. Radha Mohan das pointed out special spots where George had spent special time, or meditated. There were a couple of
spots where George and Radha Mohan das had interacted. Then, I was stunned when Radha Mohan das sang some of George's songs to me at the appropriate spots in George's Garden. I was so in the moment that I didn't focus carefully on the videos. But you still should enjoy them. 

After an additional couple of days to tour in London, I flew to Manchester and took the train to Liverpool. Then, I enjoyed all International Beatleweek has to offer. That was a separate joy. If you are a Beatles fan, you should make this a reality for yourself. It is an expense you can manage in many different ways. And, if you need a "consultation," let me know. It really is a place of Peace & Love. 

George taught us All Things Must Pass. But, he also showed us that if we want Here Comes the Sun. I have more stories, photos, and videos on my Facebook profile, here, and would welcome you as a friend, if you ask. 

Olivia Anne Morris Fuchs

(FYI, Olivia tells us there is a Facebook group called The Friar Park Fan Club about the history of Friar Park.)

(Olivia also recommends "Chasing Rhinos With the Swami, Volume 1," which includes memories of George Harrison.) 

Help Jackie Spencer find 'Little Georgie'

Liverpool Beatles tour guide Jackie Spencer is desperately searching for "Little Georgie," a Beatles doll with a lot of sentimental value that she lost last week. "He was a gift given to me from Jaclyn King in Orlando. Since then he's become a well traveled little icon visiting New York, California, all over the UK, Switzerland, Norway, Italy, and more," she told us. 

"I lost him on a Beatles Ale Trail after we'd been to Wales all day (Thursday) to see Bangor University where the Maharishi held his conference, then Portmerion where George had his 50th birthday party," she continued. "He always came along when I had children on tours. They loved him. On the Beatles Pilgrimage Ale Trail back in Liverpool, we visited The Philharmonic Dining Rooms, Ye Cracke and The Jacaranda. (It) was at the end of the evening I realized he wasn't in my bag anymore. 

"I've had him since 2013. He's become quite a cult figure. Since I lost him I've had loads of replacement offers from really kind Beatle fans. I have a replacement in the wings and Beatle people have been so kind offering to replace him for me." 

However, she's really hoping to get the original back. If you can help her, contact her at jackie@beatleguide.com.  

Roag Best to open museum with his collection of Beatles rarities in Liverpool

We spent some time on the phone Tuesday with Roag Best, who told us about his upcoming plans to open a multi-story Beatles attraction called "The Magical History Museum" in Liverpool. "We bought a four-story building on Mathew Street between the Cavern Club and the Hard Day's Night Hotel," he said. The building faces the Cavern Club "so our position I think is pretty wonderful."

The ground floor will have a bar-restaurant called "Sgt. Pepper's" and will be the first part of the building to open, which will happen on July 28. The museum will open later, he said. 

The building will have displays of Beatles history going up through 1970 with memorabilia he inherited from his mother, Mona Best ("who was a hoarder") and from his father, Neil Aspinall (whose link to the Beatles should be known to anyone reading this) and stuff he has collected himself over a 30-year span. (Pete is not involved.)

"I only go after rare items," he said. Among ,the things he owns is the 1962 color silent film footage of the Beatles playing at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, believed to be the earliest known color footage of the group. You can see a short version of it on this page, but Roag said there is more that has never been made public. "I think the maximum we've put out is about 15 or 16 seconds, and it runs to just over a minute. It was a valentine's dance, but not on Valentine's Day. They were playing on a different night."

 He said the gentleman who sold Roag the film wasn't there to film the Beatles, but for a family event. After learning of the film, Roag said it took him 18 months to track him down and finally he worked out a deal.

The last time we saw Roag was when the Pete Best Band toured the U.S. A great show that was. 

Finder of possibly the earliest picture of Paul McCartney comments

The Liverpool Echo ran a story today with a photo that could be the earliest picture of Paul McCartney. We have some exclusive comments here from Peter Hodgson, who discovered it going through the Echo archives and is also quoted in the story. The photo is below.  

On the one above, Hodgson said, "Just a normal photo of children having fun on a beach. Oglet Shore Speke circa 1947. Well, a normal photo until you take a closer look. Paul facing the camera, Mike looking out to the Merse (Mersey)."  

This is blown up from the one above. "Paul and Mike always wore braced up shorts when they were little boys. There are many photos proving this. See the girl standing with them wearing white dress, white ribbons in her hair?"

"White dress, white ribboned hair. Paul in his braced up shorts," Peter Hodgson says. "The photo of Paul sitting down with the girl is what convinced me as the girl also had white dress and white ribboned hair. As soon as I'd seen her on the beach with them, I immediately remembered a photo of her with Paul, in Paul's backyard in Speke. "

McCartney's brother Mike weighed in today to the Echo and said he's not positive, but he says there's a chance the top photo could be he and Paul. “I couldn’t say it is definitely us, but it might well be! I’d say there is a 50/50 chance it’s us. We did wear shorts like that with the braces on. Our hair did look like that. And the height difference between the two boys looks right as our kid is 18 months older than me," he told the Echo.

He also said the girl resembles one that used to live next door to them on Western Avenue. "She was more our kid’s age, and she did look like the girl standing next to the boy in the photo who could be Paul. It’s a fascinating story!"

Hodgson adds, "Pure luck that I examined the photo. I only examined the photo as it stated it was taken on Oglet Shore in Speke as I knew that the McCartneys used to play there. I wouldn't have bothered otherwise."

If you know who the girl is or have any other clues, leave a comment here.