'The TRUE story of how the Beatles got their name!"

[TonyMay]

Hi Everyone,

In victorian London there used to be a gentlemans club for the 'well to do' where members would be encouraged to make up and tell 'tall tales' at the clubs meetings. Club members would then delight in passing on the stories they had made up or heard at the club as rumours to servants etc for devilment. In fact, it is thought that the rumour about Prince Albert Victor being Jack The Ripper may have begun life at the club.
In tribute to these 'scamps and wags' of the Victorian era, I myself am working on a book of 'Tall Tales'. Seeing as you Liverpudlians are such a friendly lot and like a laugh I thought I'd upload one about your cities most famous sons for you from my book.

I hope you like it and if any of you have any feedback on it (CIVIL PLEASE! HA HA HA) I'd be glad to hear it.


Tony May’s Tall Tales no2

“Can’t Buy Me Love�

It is a little known fact that the world’s most famous pop group of all time was actually named after the result of a charity darts match. The match in question held at the “Cock and Whippet� public house in the district of Aigburth near Liverpool early in 1960. At this time John Lennon, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison all lived locally and were know to frequent the Cock and Whippet. The four friends decided to enter the charity competition, as proceeds from the event would be going to the aid of their local deaf center, a subject particularly close to their hearts.
On the night of the competition the competitors were gathered ‘round the bar eagerly looking at the effect of the draw when suddenly, the landlord of the Cock and Whippet, Charlie Pepper, (known to his pals as “sergeant� due to his days in the army) came from upstairs into the bar in a rage.
‘’I’m afraid the darts match is off. Some blighter broke in last night and has stolen the charity money and all the darts in the pub!� he bellowed.
A mumble of horror and disappointment went around the pub.
“Oh well, it’s a long and winding road home� said Ringo shrugging his shoulders.
“Aye, it’s a shame we didn’t play the game yesterday� said George. “Sometimes I just lose all faith in human nature, I mean why can’t people just let things be,� said Paul and John almost at the same time.
‘Sgt’ Pepper’s face was scarlet with rage.
“I tell you boy’s I’ve got a good idea to go and get my revolver. If I find out who did this God help them!�
As luck would have it however one of the competitors called Les had brought his own set of darts with him. All was not lost he insisted, if people were prepared to take turns and be patient, the competition could be played using them.
“Perhaps competitors could pay entry fees again?� Asked ‘Sgt’ Pepper.
“We could have a whip round too shouted someone at the far end of the bar�
This suggestion did not please George Harrison however who had only agreed to play in the first place because the other lads had press-ganged him into it.
‘Worse than the bloody taxman� he muttered to himself under his breath.
Still, not wanting to allow the nasty thieves to put a downer on the event, everybody eventually agreed to these suggestions and so began the competition.
The four friends games were all in the second half of the draw and so the boys faced quite a lengthy wait before they would be due to play.
The boys had recently formed a pop group and in order to try to cheer everybody up, they decided to go home, fetch their musical instruments, and then play and entertain everybody while they were waiting. Happily for everybody, once the “fab four� (as the punters on the day nicknamed them) got going the mood in the Cock & Whippet lightened and soon all thoughts of the robbery were forgotten.
“Have you lot got a name yet?� ‘Sgt’ asked. “ I might let you do a few gigs in here more often on this evidence� he enthused.
The boys, though overjoyed, had to admit that up until now they’d not really had time to even think seriously about becoming a “proper group� let alone of a name.
The night went on at a pace and soon it became the turn of each of the boys to play their matches, John and Ringo got knocked out in the first round while George made the second. Paul though did well and made the final before succumbing 3-0 to Les.
Les’s victory, despite the charitable nature of the event itself, was not well received and many of the beaten competitors, including Paul, could be heard moaning about the “unfair advantage� Les had had playing with his own set of darts. In fact, when the final results sheet was put up on show in the bar one disgruntled loser scribbled on the bottom of the sheet “ Nobody could’ve beat Les!�
Paul stood at the bar, pint about to be raised to his lips contemplating his defeat and glaring at the results sheet.
Suddenly, his features relaxed and he exclaimed with a hearty laugh.
“That’s it, that’s it!�
� What’s it?� replied Ringo, nearly spilling his pint of Guinness with surprise. “The name for our group… beat-Les…beatles, get it! We’ll call ourselves the Beatles!
Ringo, George and John stared back at Paul a blank expression on their faces.
“Come on you lot� said Paul aghast at how slow his friends were, “haven’t we all played Les tonight at one time or another and been thrashed by him!�
The penny dropped and the four friends began to laugh loudly.
The rest as they say is history…
Finally as a foot-note, with regard to the boys good natured charity work, you will I am sure be glad to know that since that monumentous day at the Cock & Whippet the lads have been performing ever since for the benefit of the deaf.


Copyright Antony May 2005.


Sorry Sir Paul, only joking! HA HA

[ChrisGeorge]

Hi Tony

Good work here, Tony. An amusing story. I suggest that the story more exactly match the song titles, so make it

"why can’t people just let it be,� said Paul and John at almost the same time.

Once you have introduced Sgt Pepper you don't need the quote marks around "Sgt." Also correct the placement of the quote mark in

“We could have a whip round too!" shouted someone at the far end of the bar.

Apostrophe needed in The four friends' games.

Chris

[TonyMay]

Hi Chris,

Manty thanks for your 'eagle eyed' observations, I have corrected the errors. I'm afraid for a writer my knowledge of punctuation is very poor! I am currently trying to wade through all 42 chapters of my book correcting errors and re-writing etc. To be honest it's not my favourite task and I'm struggling for enthusiasm. I don't know about you but I much prefer the actual writing bit. I'm trying to keep at it as another member of my writing club has just had a book released. Watch out for it Chris, it's called 'Lillian's Story:One Woman's Journey Through The 20th Century' I think it could be big.

All the best,

Tony.