Mendips: John Lennon's house

A middle class hero protected in green and education



Teenager John in front of Mendips

Sunday morning. Liverpool. Even my socks are wet by the usual showers. I'm going to visit the Sancta Santorum - the place to go if you love John Lennon. Do I love John Lennon? It's much easier to love someone who wrote your favorite songs than someone you live with day in day out. So it's not comparable. I'm on my way to Mendips, donated by Yoko to the National Trust ten years ago: the place were Lennon lived longer than in Kenwood, Tittenhurst or even Dakota.

By Dominique Verschuren

Miriam M'Cauley is the perfect guide. She’s friendly - taking time to laugh, joke and make contact with her audience. The perfect person to keep the legend alive. She was (and still is?) in love with George Harrison, but all four Beatles conquered her heart. M'Cauley can't tell us enough times how lovely Mendips is. And she's right. It's smaller than I expected, more cosy than I thought, but it is indeed a nice place to grow up, located in a lovely green area called Woolton. This is England's greenery at its finest.

I guess without knowing it she refers a myth to the garbage: John Lennon, the working class hero. She proves: it’s complete nonsense. M'Cauley: "A bell system in the house. You could say it's a middle class area. People who lived here were bank managers, consultants, that type of thing. This area is still very popular. A lot of Liverpool’s footballers live here."

But this is not the whole story. John's first address, 9 Newcastle Road, definitely looks more working class. And in a way John was. John’s auntie Mimi Smith had ambitions to reach a higher status than her background. That’s why he grew up in more supporting circumstances: the house (uncle George Smith owned different houses), the education, the structure, the civilization... Mimi only wanted two things: she wanted to keep her cousin under control in which she totally failed. And secondly she wanted him to climb up the ladder which succeeds heavily. Ironically because the first purpose failed.

Battle for little John

John entered Mendips definitely in the summer of 1946. Just after he came back from Blackpool. His mother took him with her, after arguing with his father about John's destiny. Back in Liverpool he would join to life with Julia and her new boyfriend John 'Bobby' Dykins. But Mimi wanted him. Her argument was convincing. Julia had proved for six years that she was not the best mother you could wish. Too young at heart to raise up a child. But Julia won't let John taking away. So Mimi sent an inspector from Liverpool Social Services to Julia who lived together with a new boyfriend, while she was officially married, in a small house without a proper room for the little John. Reasons enough to take John to Mendips. In Mendips John had his own bedroom. There were three rooms: one to receive visitors, one for dining, and a morning room, full of light with lovely side on the garden and easy to heat in the winter.

John's bedroom

After Julia arranged preparations to get John back, it was already too late. According to his niece Leila, Mimi stood in front of John as she wanted to protect him and said to her sister: "You're not gonna get him!"

Mendips carved deep inside his soul

In Mendips John had a lovely time of structure and balance. The education he got, made him complete enough to develop himself as the great innovator of pop music. He was an intellectual in rock history, at the same level with Bob Dylan, Lou Reed, Bowie and Bono. And the fundaments he got from his uncle George and his auntie Mimi. Certainly in the first ten years before Elvis conquered his heart and soul he was raised up in a old traditional way. Later on John became a media junk, passive as well active. He not only appeared constantly on the telly, he was also addicted to watch. He innovate popular culture with his music and knew how to manipulate the mass. That's why it is so special to know how he was raising up before Elvis took it over from Mimi and George.

Cause there always stays something deep inside him which was a heritage of those first years in Mendips. M'Cauley: "When John went to live in the Dakota buildings he took the clock with him with "George 'too good' Smith" on it. People would say, why did he take a clock? Well, you only need silence to know why he took it. Most people of John's age remember going to the house and this was the sound they hear. It wouldn't be the television or the radio. It would be the ticking of the clock.”

(Thanks to Helen Williams)

How became the Beatles so typical Beatles?

"We're not British, we're Scouse!"

Irresistible they were. The four Beatles together worked like magic. Not only their music but also their performance, their attitude. The press conference at New York Airport on February 7th 1964 says enough. In some minutes they put the sceptical journalists in their pockets. From where came that appeal? For the answer we only have to dive in the city of their roots. The Beatles are typical as every Scouser: funny, a bit cynical, and certainly quick. But there's more about the Scousers.

By Dominique Verschuren

Wikipedia learns us that Scouse is in fact a dialect in the first place. It's spoken in a large area of the Merseyside. The dialect really stands on itself, as well the attitude of the Liverpudlian. You have Britain and you have Liverpool, I learned during my visits to the city. Even the word 'enclave' is not misplaced.

Beside the dialect you also recognize the typical Scousers mentality. Neil Brannan, the guide on the Magical Mystery Tour bus, explains:  "If you're going to say in the South, I go to Liverpool for the day, people would say: why? It's full of rubbish, full of thieves. While they never been to Liverpool. A lot of people who visit Liverpool said: I wish I spend more time in Liverpool. It's more relaxed, everybody is more friendly. Scousers are very hospitable."

And Scousers are proud. Brannan is the first to admit: "Very, very proud. We have the Beatles, we have the football, we have the history, the port...  Liverpool people are the most patriotic people of every city. We're not British, we're Scouse. It doesn't mean anything in particular. It just mean that down there in London, they don't care about us. So why should we care about them?"

Hospitable, funny and quick

The word Scouse should come from lobscouse. Borrowed from the Norwegian word lapskaus. Sailors introduced this meal of meat and 'rest vegetables' to the Mersey Port. In the 19th century it became so popular that the locals were called "Scousers".

From food it's a very small step to the main typical thing about Scousers, according to Brannan: "Liverpool is more famous for its hospitality than anything else. At this pub here, The Cavern Club, once a guy from Japan stood alone at the bar. And there a guy from Russia stood alone at the bar. And guy from South America the same. Within 20 minutes they were all standing in one group at the bar. Cause we Scousers say: 'Come join us, come and have a drink. Don't stand on your own.' A typical Scouser is in my opinion: Hospitable, funny and quick. " It is indeed not really difficult to be in touch with a Liverpudlian. Holding a map in your hand and there's a real change people voluntary ask you if you're lost. Or drop the word 'Beatles' and you're taking off.

 

Also the Beatles were untiring speakers. During and besides press conferences. They were irresistible funny and very quick with a reaction. Everybody knows John's legendary sense of humor, often cynical, similar to George's. Although John was a bit quicker. Paul was more polite and diplomatic, but sometimes very to the point and Ringo always appeared with his dry remarks. Together they could melt the heart of the greatest sourpuss. And you also hears it in the music; it's one of the main ingredients of their success. Scousers don't taken them self too serious, neither did the Beatles. Certainly in the beginning they tend to tone down them self. And during Beatlemania they were searching to keep standing with their feet on the ground. No wonder if you see where they come from. The Beatles are so typical Scouse.

The 'welcomeness' of the port

Light years away from that New York Airport in 1964 there is the Saturday night in Liverpool anno 2012. The Cavern is much more for the locals than during the week. Outside on Mathew Street you find no trace of Beatle-tourists. The locals occupy the area, the police watch them as Big Brother. All women, I mean all women, are dressed shorter than short, with high heels and three layers of make-up. At two o'clock in the night they're walking with a chicken skin from the cold, very unbalanced or on naked feet with the high heels in their hand. The cold seems to be the only reason why you don't see couples fucking. Cause sex floats in the air and lies on every corner of the street.

Also very typical Scouse? The night porter in the hotel lobby only says: "Scousers life for now, don't think about tomorrow. Tomorrow it's just another day." Heathen, just a Liverpudlian mother of two small kids who I met by coincidence one day before on Menlove Avenue, notice the changes in the 21st century: "Scousers are cynical, rough sense of humor. John Lennon also had that. These days is getting more and more cynical in a nasty way and also behaviour. But I think you see that development everywhere, not only in Liverpool."

 

It can be true what Heathen says, but even then it's remarkable how polite and friendly the Liverpudlians still are. Certainly comparable with other Europeans. Brannan has an explanation: "Hospitality has also something to do with the port. Hamburg, Ostend, Calais. I think the port has something to do with the 'welcomness'. You always expect the stranger in a port. It must have something to do with it."

 Part of the press conference at New York Airport, 7 February 1964:

Press conference in Melbourne, 1964:

 

(Thanks to Helen Williams)

On the Magical Mystery Tour with Neil Brannan

"For me every day is a Beatle day"


Best introduction to Beatles history is the Magical Mystery Tour. In the oldest bus Liverpool could find people from all over the world come together for a ride under the "blue subarban skies". Well, forget it. The weatherwoman was very clear yesterday: showers will be our part. But there's a guy who let the rainbow colored bus shines. Neil Brannan (37), captain of the tour for 11 years. "More and more nobody knows what's really true or not about the Beatles. It's so huge. I only give factional information."

By Dominique Verschuren

Brannan is our guide. So he was during my first trip 5 years ago. He's still making the same jokes: "During a reception Queen Elizabeth II said to Sir Paul McCartney: 'I have Beatle-records at home.' Paul answered her: 'I have Queen-records at home.'" Even the Filipino's understand it. And they are not alone. Tourists from Scotland, France, Holland, Germany, Norway, Austria, Canada, Peru... The Beatles are the strongest magnet Liverpool could wish.

Neil Brannan

No doubt about it, Brannan is an entertainer. Neil: "I'm doing it now for 11 years. I was dj in the Cavern, the club where the Beatles became big. Some guy suggests me: 'You have to be in that bus!' Me in that bus? Why? 'You speak every night to people you never met before. You have to teach that people that history.' 'But I can't teaching that,' I said. He gave me a book. I join the tour and I enjoyed it. Now I do it full time: 6 days a week. It feels like 8 days a week."

Listening to the songs with the same name in the bus we are for a moment a part of the real Penny Lane and we see a glimp of Strawberry Field. Brannan speaks with a lot of love about 'our John' or about Paul who he met a couple of times. Macca is his favorite Beatle, nevertheless he admit he's not a huge Beatle-fan. Brannan: "Everyone in Liverpool knows a Beatle-song. Every Scouser is proud they came from Liverpool. On the Beatle-fest, an event organized every year, there you met real fanatics. I can't call myself on the same level as the tourists who travel 10.000 miles to come to here. I don't go home and listening to Beatle-music. It's work for me, but it's never boring because of the music and because of the people. For me every day is a Beatle-day."

While school pupils in their uniform walks through Liverpool suburbia anno 2012, the rainbow bus from pastime paradise continues his journey. With the Magical Mystery Tour Brannan promotes a part of the legend of the Fab Four. Of course. Nevertheless he's a man of facts: "I only tells about where the Beatles lived from when till when. I'm not going to tell about the persons, cause I don't know them personally. I've met 1000's of Pauls 'cousins', you know. And they all have their own stories. But more and more nobody knows what's really true or not. I only give factional information."

That's the main reason why he skipped an old remark from 5 years ago. Only because he can't prove it. Brannan: "As we passed Sefton Park there's a big statue in the shape of a penis. Then I said that's because Ringo, cause he lost virginity in this park."

(Thanks to Helen Williams)

 

John Lennon Diary - Dominique in Liverpool 2012

Hello everybody,

I'm staying here for a while to breathe the atmosphere of the ultimate Beatles Town. Cause Liverpool certainly drives on the Beatles Industry. But of course I show the story behind The Beatles and John Lennon. I know my way in this town, I have contact with people who have special links with Lennon and I like you to inform about my adventures here.

You can follow my steps in this Liverpool Diary on my blog: The atmosphere of this place, my own thoughts and something extra. So turn on, tune in and cop out (like an old acid mantra said - well more into John Lennon we can hardly be!).

Enjoy!
Dominique

http://dominique-verschuren.blogspot.com