Tooting

I met the Beatles at number 22 Trevelyan Road in 1963.

A great encouter, thanks for sharing, Raymond!

Raymond, what an intriguing encounter in Trevelyan Road. Could you please share more information about this?

I am working with local Tooting historian Geoff who runs a community history project in south west London, trying to interest as many people as he can in all aspects of local history through guided walks, talks, working with schools and putting up plaques.

We’ve identified a story about a house where The Beatles supposedly stayed on the Roy Orbison Tour on 1st June 1963. That evening they played two shows at the nearby Tooting Granada. Still a much-loved location at the heart of Tooting, though a bingo hall for the last thirty years. The following day the tour moved to Brighton. According to Martin Creasy’s 2010 book ‘Beatlemania! The Beatles UK Tours 1963-65’ the band spent the early part of that day recording ‘Pop Go The Beatles’ at the BBC studios in central London but nowhere can we find any written account of them staying at what would appear to be a residential address at 22 Trevelyan Road. Electoral rolls indicate the house may have been between owners at the time which may fit but apart from a few comments online the only thing we have to go on is the memory of a few elderly local people who have have very vivid memories of ‘Ringo sitting on an upstairs window ledge’ and George talking to passers by.

If we can get a bit more proof we would like very much to mark the location with a plaque. It is literally ‘one day in pop history’ but a very significant time. Gerry and The Pacemakers and The Beatles were between them at the top of the charts for 14 consecutive weeks and ‘From Me To You ‘ The Beatles first No1. We are very keen to try and identify some record of the band staying at the house and establish that it’s not some kind of local myth.

Any further information very welcome indeed.