I'LL FOLLOW THE SUN

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On the cusp of superstardom (and living it up in Weston-super-Mare): Beatles fan's unseen photos of the Fab Four having fun in the sun

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

24th February 2012

These previously unseen photos show the Beatles having not such a Hard Day’s Night but relaxing in a seaside hotel in 1963, just months before their global rise to fame.

In one shot the Fab Four are seen sun bathing topless on the terrace - except for John Lennon who is still donning a dark waistcoat and shirt. In the background a pasty-looking gentleman is sunbathing in his underpants, oblivious to his famous neighbours. 

In another Ringo Starr and Paul McCartney take afternoon tea out of china cups as a group of old ladies sit in armchairs nearby.

A third picture shows the group relaxing on deck chairs with Ringo waving and the fourth shows George Harrison sharing a pot of tea with a friend.

Good day sunshine: The Beatles bask in the Weston-Super-Mare sun after a busy few months touring around the country. In the background a pasty-looking gentleman is sunbathing in his underpants, oblivious to his famous neighbours

The candid photos were taken at a hotel in Weston Super Mare, Somerset, by schoolboy Bruce Leak then aged 11 who was on a family holiday with his parents and sister.

The family spoke to John Lennon, then 23, Paul, then 21, George, then 20, and Ringo, then 23, while they ate their breakfast at the hotel.

The band had just had a UK number one single with Please Please Me and an album hit with the same title. Just months earlier they had signed to Parlophone Records and were spending the year touring around British towns, playing in Margate, Leeds and Yarmouth, and were gaining popularity. As they arrived in Weston-super-mare, on the other side of the pond a U.S. LP was being released called Introducing the Beatles. 

Despite getting the amazingly candid pictures of the Beatles before they hit the big time, Bruce kept his amazing snaps in a drawer for decades - thinking that they were ‘rubbish’ and ‘worth nothing.’

When he passed away last year aged 59, his sister, Ann O’Neill, 73, inherited them and decided to auction them off in the hope that they will fall into good hands.

A day in the life: Schoolboy Bruce Leak captured candid snaps of the band as they enjoyed a relaxing day by the coast

Mrs O’Neill, from Wigan, Greater Manchester, said: ‘My brother had the pictures for years but thought that they were a load of rubbish and they were worth nothing.

‘But when he passed away in February last year I inherited them. I thought it such a shame to throw them away but they are too much of a reminder of my brother to keep them.’

Happiness is a warm bun: The Beatles take tea in a Weston-Super-Mare hotel. Paul McCartney seems to have dressed up for the occasion

Ann’s mum Edith is in two of the pictures. 'She is walking out the door in one and the other she is sitting with them at breakfast,' said Ann.

‘She said they were very friendly and chatty and looked very relaxed like they didn’t have a care in the world, but this was before their fame grew.’

The siblings remained big Beatles fans and Bruce had some of their music played at his funeral. 

The photographs are to be auctioned on tomorrow at Omega Auctions in Stockport, Greater Manchester, are expected to make up to £400.

Paul Fairweather, an auctioneer at Omega, said: ‘We have estimated for the set of four photos a value of £300-400 because they are quite candid pictures we think that they will go for more than others of their kind.

‘The most interesting one is the one of all four of them where they are sat outside; John is reading and the others are sat with their shirts off.

Daytrippers: The Fab Four enjoy tea served in china tea cups and silver tea pots. In the background older ladies seem nonplussed by their famous teatime companions

‘They look really relaxed not worrying about anything unlike in later years when they couldn’t go anywhere without being hounded. It was a rare chance for them to take in the sunshine.

‘It was in 1963 around the Please Please Me era, right in the beginning of their fame. They had been playing for about six months I think at this time.

‘Brian Epstein signed them to Parlaphone at the end of 1962 so I guess they would have been down to London before then but you can see that they are still young and fresh faced.’

As well as the photographs, an 8mm film of the Beatles 1963 tour which was donated by another collector is going under the hammer.

It's for you: Auctioneer Paul Fairweather is now selling off the photos at his auction house in Stockport, Greater Manchester

Meanwhile a series of events are being unveiled today in the Beatles’ home town to celebrate 50 years since the band’s formation.

John Lennon, Paul McCartney and George Harrison were joined in August 1962 by drummer Ringo Starr, who replaced Pete Best, to become the Fab Four.

Here comes the sun: Junior photographer Bruce (second left) on his summer holiday with his mother Edith Leak (far left), sister Ann O'Neill and dad William Leak.

Two months later their first single Love Me Do was released and Beatlemania swept across the world.

Liverpool Council will unveil plans for a series of anniversary events today at the city’s Cavern Club.
The highlights include International Beatles Week, in August, which will mark the 50th anniversary with music and fans from all over the world descending on the city.

Tribute gigs, guest speakers and the world’s biggest Beatles convention will all take place.

Further concert performances will take place on Love Me Do Weekend in October and thousands are expected to attend a peace vigil in December on the 32nd anniversary of Lennon’s murder.

There will also be stage shows at the city’s Epstein Theatre, named in honour of Beatles manager Brian Epstein, and performances by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.