Beatles: Liverpool Freedom awards to be completed?

Macca receiving the Freedom of Liverpool 25 years ago today

Fans are calling for honours awarded to The Beatles exactly 25 years ago in Liverpool to finally be handed over.

The Liverpool Beatles Appreciation Society (LBAS) was instrumental in having the Fab Four awarded the Freedom of the City in 1984.

It was on 28th November 1984 that Paul McCartney received the Freedom scroll at a civic ceremony in the city. Yoko Ono later accepted John's award posthumously in the USA.

Now the LBAS is calling on the city council to complete the process by arranging for both Ringo Starr and the late George Harrison's family to receive their awards.

The city conferred the Freedom on the Beatles after councillor Rosie Cooper proposed a motion - controversial at the time - that their contribution to the city life should be recognised.

LBAS founder John-James Chambers said: "The LBAS lobbied for the Freedom of the City to be awarded to the Beatles in the early 80s.

"Councillor Rosie Cooper proposed the motion for the honour to be bestowed on them and it culminated with Paul coming to Liverpool to accept the award from the Lord Mayor.

"I believe Yoko Ono later accepted the Freedom scroll for John at a ceremony in New York, but the scrolls for Ringo and George must be gathering dust in the town hall.

"I'm sure that Ringo would be happy to come to Liverpool to accept the honour and George's sister Louise or his widow Olivia would accept it on his behalf.

"Next year it is forty years since The Beatles split-up yet their music is played and enjoyed just as much today as it ever was.

"The city will be wanting to mark the 40th anniversary of the end of The Beatles era and it would be a fitting occasion to award the Freedom to Ringo and George as part of that."

Former councillor Rosemary Cooper is now Labour MP for West Lancashire.

Miss Cooper said: "Back in the Eighties it proved impossible to get the three remaining Beatles together to receive the freedom at the same time.

"The decision was made that the awards would be conferred individually when the opportunity arose.

"It's sad that the city did not have the opportunity to present the award to George Harrison while he was still alive,

"But I think it is time now that arrangements were made to hand George's scroll to his family and I hope arrangements could be made for Ringo Starr to attend a reception to receive his."

Comments about Beatles: Liverpool Freedom awards to be completed?