Brian Epstein Legacy Project To Honour Late Liverpool Music Legend

THE whole world is being urged to 'come together' to honour the late Brian Epstein with a lasting memorial to the man who helped change the face of popular music forever. The Brian Epstein Legacy Project; which is being re-launched following a pause in activity due to the Pandemic; will see the creation of a statue of the late legendary music entrepreneur, while additional money that is raised will be dedicated to developing a wider legacy in his memory.

And the campaign, 1st unveiled as:- 'The Brian Epstein Statue Project' in 2019, today also announced a new Stateside partnership with the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Music Association Hall of Fame and Museum; helping to champion plans on the global stage.

The appeal is currently a 3rd of the way towards an initial ₤60,000 target for the proposed new statue which will be created by renowned Liverpool sculptor Andy Edwards and sited at a key Liverpool location yet to be revealed.

Generous sums have so far been received from people in more than a dozen countries including:- the United States, Canada, Japan, Mexico, Sweden, Italy and France; as well as a substantial anonymous donation.

Now it is hoped the appeal will go on to raise a minimum of ₤100,000, enabling it to further honour Brian's energy and vision.

The Beatles' former manager, born in Liverpool in 1934, is credited with catapulting the Fab 4 to global success and has been fondly dubbed the:- '5th Beatle' to underline his central role in their stratospheric rise to become the most famous band the world has ever seen.

Yet while there are dozens of Beatles' statues and monuments across several continents, there is no lasting tribute to recognise and celebrate the vital part he played in the band's history, nor how he changed the face and sound of popular music.

Brian owned NEMS record shop in Whitechapel. It was a lunchtime visit to The Cavern Club in the heart of Liverpool to watch a four-piece rock and roll band on 9 November 1961 which would change the course of history. Music and life in Liverpool would never be the same again. That band was The Beatles; whom Brian would go on to manage.

In addition to the Fab Four, he also nurtured a number of other star performers including:- Cilla Black, Gerry and The Pacemakers, Billy J Kramer and The Dakotas, The Chants, The Scaffold and The Moody Blues.

There are several film projects about his life and career which are currently in development.

The Brian Epstein Legacy Project committee includes cultural campaigner and activist Tom Calderbank; Beatles fan Marie Darwin who was part of a group who campaigned for a plaque to be placed on the birthplace of Brian Epstein; Beatles historians, researchers and authors Kevin and Julie Roach, and son Robert; Larry Sidorczuk was the personal assistant to the late Joe Flannery, Brian Epstein's original business partner and bookings manager; and Bill Elms, a producer of the smash hit play Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles, which was staged in Liverpool and London's West End.

Tom Calderbank, who is leading the project, said:- "Following the pause in our campaign due to the Pandemic, we've now got fresh wind in our sails. Our new partnership with the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association Hall of Fame and Museum is a major part of that. They have helped us revamp our marketing and web presence and injected fresh energy into the project. Watch this space for future announcements. In addition, an anonymous donor has given us ₤10,000, doubling our funds so far. We now need ₤40,000 to complete the statue. Once completed, however, the sculpture will be only phase 1 of the wider project. Phase 2 aims to raise at least another ₤40,000 to establish a musical instrument library, to give access to music to underprivileged young people across the Liverpool City Region and help develop the next generation of talent. Phase 3 will then look further afield to see what can be achieved to celebrate and develop Brian's legacy. We're all very excited at what's to come."

And Ralph Kluseman, President of the Iowa Rock 'n Roll Music Association Hall of Fame and Museum, added:- "As a lifelong Beatles fan, and a great admirer of Brian Epstein's vision, drive and determination, I'm really pleased to be connected with the project, and with the dedicated team based in Liverpool. Brian needs his legacy to be recognised and we want to help; without him the world would never have been blessed with The Beatles and so much more."

Andy Edwards is best known for his famous statue of The Beatles located at Liverpool's world famous Liverpool Pier Head, and co-sculpted the statue of Cilla Black, in Mathew Street.

Meanwhile his poignant sculpture:- 'The Truce' can be found in the grounds of St Luke's the Bombed Out Church, and depicts the historic moment on Christmas Day 1914, when a game of football spontaneously broke out between British and German soldiers, on the 1st World War battlefield.

The Brian Epstein Legacy Project also has the support of Liverpool born Actor Andrew Lancel, who portrayed Brian in the smash hit play Epstein: The Man Who Made The Beatles on stage in Liverpool and London's West End to critical acclaim. He later played Brian again in a UK wide tour of Cilla The Musical; and is a huge advocate of recognising all Brian achieved. He said:- "Brian's contribution to the music industry, The Beatles, Liverpool, and the world really was incomparable. And I can think of few people more worthy of this tribute in his home City."

Donations can be made by visiting:- TheFifthBeatleStory.Com.
 

Birkdale father and son duo take on cycle challenge for North West Cancer Research

BIRKDALE resident Mike Whalen, will take on a pedal pushing 60km cycling challenge as he turns 60, raising money for life-saving cancer research in the Region. Mike will join hundreds of other cyclists for North West Cancer Research's Cycle of Hope event, on 4 July 2021 who will complete either the 60km or 60 mile route starting and ending at Southport Rugby Club. Mike turned 60 in January 2020 and had planned to take on the challenge last year, after not riding a bike for more than 35 years. Sadly, the event had to be rescheduled due to Covid restrictions, but now he's back in the saddle and is getting ready for the challenge. Mike has been raising money for charity North West Cancer Research over a number of years, after his wife Jeanette was given the all clear from a breast cancer diagnosis 9 years ago. In May 2019 he and his son Dan, took on a dare devil sky dive for the charity, raising ₤3,500. Dan and his sister Megan will both join their dad on the Cycle of Hope challenge, taking on the 60km route to honour the bravery of their mum.

Mike said:- "After seeing my wife go through the experience of having and recovering from cancer, I knew I needed to do something, however small, to help others in the same situation have the same chance as her. I've been supporting North West Cancer Research for some years now, after hearing of their work through my niece and its great to be able to get behind them once more for the Cycle of Hope. After last year's event was rescheduled, its great to have the opportunity to get out there and get everyone together, in a safe way of course, to raise money for such an important cause. To have both my son and daughter cycling with me will be a great feeling and I know they, like me, want to help others who are going through the same thing that our family went through."

Father and son Mike and Dan, both have ties to Southport Rugby Club, where the Cycle of Hope will start and finish. Dan is former Captain of Southport Rugby Club's 1st team as scrum half and the pair have been encouraging other club members to join them on the challenge, with players from the men's, women's and colt's teams taking part.

Dan added:- "To be able to take part in so many fundraising events over the last few years with my dad, has been an amazing experience. Our sky dive is up there as 1 of the best moments of my life. To do it in support of North West Cancer Research makes it completely worthwhile. To have the support of Southport Rugby Club has helped us raise more money than we ever envisioned over the years and they have come together once more for Cycle of Hope to help us raise even more. The support and awareness that the Club continues to show for local charities, including North West Cancer Research, is very much appreciated."

Sponsored by Rutherford Direct, Cycle of Hope, now in its 3rd year, will take a different format this year, with the aim of attracting more cyclists of all abilities to get involved. This year's participants can choose from either a gentle 60km journey or a more challenging 60 mile course, both starting and finishing at Southport Rugby Club. Whichever route they choose, they will be rewarded with some of Merseyside and Lancashire's finest views, as they head from Southport and travel South East and then North, completing a loop of the Region's picturesque countryside. North West Cancer Research is an independent charity dedicated to putting the Region's cancer needs 1st by tackling the cause, improving the care and finding the cure for cancer. All money raised from the challenge will support funding for life-saving cancer research and education projects in the North West and North Wales.

To make a donation to Mike, Dan and Megan's Just Giving page, follow the link here. For more information on this year's Cycle of Hope visit:- NWCR.Org or contact Cara on:- 01517092919 or go to:- Cara@NWCR.Org.