Paul McCartney returns to John Lennon’s old art college after it was bought by LIPA
FORMER Beatle Sir Paul McCartney stepped back in time to visit band mate John Lennon’s old art college after it was bought by his fame school.
The Grade II-listed Liverpool College of Art building, on Hope Street, is steeped in Beatles history – it was where Lennon, his future wife Cynthia and The Beatles’ original bassist Stuart Sutcliffe all studied in the 1950s.
The purchase by Sir Paul’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (Lipa) brings together two old haunts of former Beatles, as the main Lipa building is housed in Sir Paul and George Harrison’s old grammar school – The Liverpool Institute for Boys.
Sir Paul and former Lipa student Liz White, who recently starred alongside Daniel Radcliffe in the film The Woman In Black, were shown around the newly-acquired building by Lipa chief executive and co-founder Mark Featherstone-Witty.
Sir Paul said: “As well as reuniting two landmark Liverpool buildings, I’m glad that this also brings back together George, John and myself.
“Aside from being a building we brought back from the brink, Lipa is now contributing as Mark and I dreamed all those years ago.”
Sir Paul and Mr Featherstone-Witty co-founded Lipa, which opened in 1995 to train performers and others in the show business industry.
Mr Featherstone-Witty said: “There are sound business reasons why we are buying the building next door, but there’s no denying the romance of bringing together two buildings where three Beatles once did their learning.
“I’m glad that this historic building will not become yet another boutique hotel or, yet again, turned into flats.
“ It’ll be used for what it was intended – learning.”
Sir Paul, who mentors graduating singer-songwriters from Lipa, also answered questions from students at the institute during his visit.
THE faces of the Fab Four have been painted on a set of dining chairs with a price tag of £1,500.
The furniture depicts colourful pop-art portraits of Beatles stars Ringo, George, Paul and John.
They were commissioned by Warrington-based accessories store, House of Nostalgia.
The chairs were designed in-house by artist Stephen Lynn to mark the 50th anniversary of the formation of the iconic 60s group.
The high quality beech dining chairs were transformed into contemporary pieces in vibrant colours mirroring the imagery of their iconic Sergeant Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover.
Chris Catelani, director of House of Nostalgia said: “House of Nostalgia, in partnership with Stephen Lynn, believe there is a gap in the market for pop-art furniture, which is both functional and collectable.”
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