Encounters

Mark Kershaw's Lennon Memorabilia

Drawings on parchment paper - courtesy of Mark Kershaw

I thought you all might be interested to hear about some items I have that used to belong to John Lennon in the 50’s and 60’s.

About 20 years ago I bought what you would now call Beatles memorabilia from Jim Smith, the father of Ken Smith, ex-Apple and Beatles’ roadie and Ringo’s former chauffeur. When John was leaving for New York he gave Ringo some of his stuff which Ringo in turn passed onto Ken.

Drawings on parchment paper - courtesy of Mark Kershaw

I have some drawings on parchment paper, which I believe John did when he was at art college. I wondered why there were big holes in the paper, but apparently there is a perfectly reasonable explanation for this … Ringo used a pitchfork to make the holes so he could display them in his garden!

Lennon plaque - courtesy of Mark Kershaw

I am particularly pleased with a wooden plaque I have. It’s like a heraldic shield. I know John painted it when he was at Quarry Bank School and that it was kept on the classroom wall. It looks as though it remained on the wall even when the classroom was re-decorated because there are paint splash marks around the outside. I’ve hung onto it simply because I like it so much and because I’ve always been a Beatles fan, but my interest was really piqued when I saw a photo of the plaque in a Beatles book I bought. It was hanging on the front door of Kenwood, John and Cynthia’s house in Weybridge, Surrey! I’d love to know more about the plaque if anyone out there knows any stories or history. (Take a look at the beginning section of the Timeline on the website and you’ll see that this is the Lennon family shield!)

My most unusual item of memorabilia is a pair of lederhosen, which John and Cynthia bought on a trip to Switzerland around 1964. The shorts are made of grey suede and leather with built in braces and a belt, finished off with gold braid. They look like the type you see big German oompa tuba players wearing at music festivals. So with that in mind I wore them to a German beer and brass band festival last November in Macclesfield. I looked the business!

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