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50 years ago Beatles made their low-key debut in Leicester

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Half a century ago, four lads who shook the world caused a small tremor in Leicester. Tomorrow marks the golden anniversary of the Beatles' debut concert in Leicester. The Leicester Mercury's records show that, while some young girls queued all night for tickets for the show at De Montfort Hall, full-scale Beatlemania had not yet hit the East Midlands. The De Montfort Hall booking record for the show on March 31, 1963 does not even mention the Fab Four. Instead it merely records that Chris Montez – who had a number two hit with Let's Dance in 1962 – headlined the gig set up by promoter Arthur Kimbrell. Gabby Miller, promotions officer at the hall, said: "It seems that for their first show here the Beatles were just the support act. "The hand-written entry in the booking records we have does not even name them on the night." This apparent indifference to the lads from Liverpool is supported by the fact that the Leicester Mercury picture desk did not deem it significant enough to send a photographer. Our records of our photographic diary for that weekend show we managed to cover a Boys' Brigade annual inspection, the opening of a Scout hut and even a jazz event – but did not have anyone to get a shot of the Beatles. Mercury chief photographer Andy Baker said: "It is difficult to look back and assess why this decision was made. All we know is that the decision was made and the Mercury did not get any shots on the night of the Beatles. Perhaps they were just not that big at the time." But the young women of Leicester were more in tune with the times. Barbara Pavey was a 15-year-old Beatles fan from South Wigstonwho was given permission by her parents to queue for tickets. Barbara, now 65 and a grandmother, said: "I can remember queuing in the cold for hours and hours to get tickets to see the Beatles. "I was hooked on them from day one – the moment I heard Love Me Do, in October 1962. "It might not have been at the height of Beatlemania but me and my friends thought they were the best thing since sliced bread. "I can't remember any of the songs they played because you couldn't hear them anyway. "There were hundreds of young girls screaming at the top of their lungs and I was one of them." Barbara, who now lives in Wigston Magna, was so besotted with the Fab Four that she went on to become the secretary of the Leicestershire branch of the official Beatles fan club. When the Beatles returned to De Montfort Hall in December 1963, their popularity was on the increase. Ms Miller said: "When they appeared in March the police bill was just £9 and when they appeared in December the bill was £45. "That tells me that Beatlemania was in full swing and had arrived in Leicester." Mercury photographers had also learned their lesson and took pictures of virtually everything that moved. If you were at the Beatles debut gig and have photos, please get in touch with us at: newsdesk@leicestermercury.co.uk

50 years ago Beatles made their low-key debut in Leicester


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