Unique Mike McCartney photographs go on display at Strawberry Field, Liverpool

 

Strawberry Field Liverpool is excited to announce the opening of Mike McCartney’s photographic journey of the Strawberry Field redevelopment, ahead of his book launch later this year.  

 

Known professionally as Mike McGear, Mike is an outstanding performing artist and rock photographer who was a member of the groups The Scaffold and Grimms.   

 

Mike was persuaded by Lady Judy Martin to chronicle the redevelopment of Strawberry Field. This is his story: 

 

"I was asked by the Salvation Army...well mainly by Lady Judy Martin OBE actually (or Jude as I affectionately call her) to record the demolition of the old Strawberry Field homes and the rebuild of a brand new facility on the same site. At first I was reticent, as it was my brother's group that made the Strawberry Field song famous...not my Scaffold comedy group, but when I discovered the amazing work that the Sally Army (as I affectionately call them) quietly get on with, I agreed to undertake the 2 to 3 year task! The trouble was how do you make the bashing down of old houses and the building of a new bricks & mortar one interesting to the public?! Well...here's a start ! with this mini-exhibition of images to whet your appetite...hope you(s) enjoy! and hope u enjoy the Cafe, and the  Shop...AND the gorge gardens with the original Red Gates! ps if you see a lone Scouser roaming round the grounds in a mask...it's not the Lone Ranger, or Donald Trump...it's ME! Don't 4get to say hello!” said Mike *McGear McCartney BEM  

 

Kathleen Versfeld, Mission Director at Strawberry Field said:  

 

“We are blessed to have the support of such wonderful people as Lady Martin and Mike McCartney. I know our visitors will be delighted to see Mike’s photographs. We can’t wait for the full collection to be made available in his planned book.” 

 

A special exhibition featuring some of Mike’s photographs will go on display in the Strawberry Field centre, alongside the visitor exhibition. The exhibition covers the interwoven stories of the Salvation Army, the children’s home, John Lennon’s childhood and the writing of Strawberry Fields Forever. The addition of the Mike McCartney photographs will offer a unique opportunity to visitors, with a never before seen insight into the redevelopment of the current site. Mike’s book, filled with an inspiring collection of images, will go on sale later this year. 

 

As a special offer to celebrate the re-opening, Strawberry Field’s visitor experience is priced at £7.00 per person until the end of September and under 16’s accompanied by an adult go free. NHS workers and a guest can also visit free of charge. Visitors will be guided around the stunning interactive exhibition where “Nothing is Real” using interactive media guides. The tour continues into the magical gardens where John played as a child, allowing visitors the opportunity to explore, unwind and dream in the place, which inspired one of the 20th century’s greatest songwriters.  

 

All funds generated by the visitor experience go towards funding a Steps to Work programme for young people with learning difficulties and other barriers to employment. 

 

To ensure safety during this time of Covid-19, visits to Strawberry Field must be booked in advance on www.strawberryfieldliverpool.com

All You Need Is Love - and Strawberry Field

Strawberry Field in Liverpool, made famous by John Lennon's song, is having a competition to spread the love!

Contact the charity to get a copy of the poster shown on the right to post at your home or business.  Encourage people to make a donation so they can write a message or love and peace on the poster.

The competition runs from Monday 10th until Sunday 16th Feb.
 
The winning poster will win a prize and all donations collect go to support the Steps to Work programme at Strawberry Field

Click here to email Lesley at Strawberry Field to get your poster. 

Check out Lennon's Strawberry Fields this Christmas

Did you know that the Strawberry Fields that figured in John Lennon's childhood and inspired the song Strawberry Field is now open to the public? 

Not only can you visit, but it is run as a charity that helps people get work.  All proceeds from these fun events go directly to their Steps to Work programme and help the Salvation Army. 

See the two festive events below.  They both sound like fun.

 

Book yourSpecial Christmas Tour of the John Lennon's Strawberry Field 23 November 2019

Help Support the transformation of Strawberry Field!

2nd November, 2017

• Inspirational choir records Beatles’ Strawberry Fields Forever at Abbey Road to launch campaign to tackle unemployment and isolation among young people with special needs
• Of one million people with learning difficulties in the UK, 93% are unemployed and 31% have no contact with family or friends
• The Salvation Army tackles issues within the learning-disabled community by re-opening former children’s home in Lennon’s Strawberry Field as a new training hub

LIVERPOOL, Thursday 2nd November – The Salvation Army today launches a public fundraising campaign to transform Strawberry Field – the former children’s home which inspired John Lennon’s Strawberry Fields Forever – into a training and work placement hub to support young people with learning disabilities.

The Church and Charity needs £2m funding to make this happen.

Over a million people in the UK have a learning disability* and only 7% of that number have a job. 31% have no contact with family or friends, according to research uncovered by the Church and Charity.

To mark the launch of the new campaign, 50 years since the original release of the 1967 classic Beatles song, a choir formed of young people with learning disabilities – all of whom could potentially benefit from the Army’s inspiring plans – gathered at the world-famous Abbey Road studios to create a special version of the iconic song, released online today. The choir was made up from a mix of students from The City of Liverpool College and young people who The Salvation Army work with.

Major Drew McCombe, Divisional Leader for The Salvation Army, North West, said: “Lennon grew up close to Strawberry Field, and gave generously to the home as soon as he got his first pay cheque. He also had a vision for it, expressed in the song, as a place where anybody, whatever their personal background and difficulties, could realise their dreams

“Strawberry Field has the potential to bring that vision to life; changing the lives of young people with learning disabilities, who find it difficult to find gainful employment, as well as encourage more projects similar across the UK. I hope our choir will not only raise awareness of these issues, but inspire people to take action to help create a better future for those affected.”

As a child, Lennon famously used to jump over the wall into the Strawberry Field grounds, where he would play with the children who lived there and listen to The Salvation Army band. He grew up just a stone’s throw away from the site in Woolton, Liverpool, which has lain unused for 12 years.

He remained a supporter of The Salvation Army, with a particular interest in Strawberry Field throughout his life, donating several thousands of pounds to the charity after the song’s release.
Paul O’Grady, supporter of The Salvation Army, said: “It is truly shocking to know the disadvantage that young people with learning disabilities face.

“I’m sure John Lennon would be smiling down on this project. As the song lyrics say, ‘Living is easy with eyes closed’ – hopefully this campaign will open people’s eyes so they see the many individuals living alongside us that aren’t being given the support they need to thrive and flourish.”

The Salvation Army is now calling on anyone interested in making a difference to the lives of these young people to help revive the iconic location through a £2m public fundraising campaign, which will allow Strawberry Field to open its doors to the public for the first time ever.

The inspirational choir was joined at Abbey Road by special guest photographer Mike McCartney, former front man of pop band The Scaffold and younger brother of Beatle Paul. He has been involved in the Strawberry Field project from its early days.

Mike said, “I wanted to capture the choir coming off the bus and walking across the famous zebra crossing, but they were on a mission – I almost missed them! They couldn’t wait to get to the studio and get in there. There was some apprehension in their faces, but it was special watching them grow in confidence throughout the day. In the end, they delivered the goods. It was a joyous day.”
Funds raised will create a training and work placement hub for young people with learning disabilities; a new, visitor experience on the place, the song and Lennon’s early life around Strawberry Field; and the development of a haven for spiritual exploration.

Please find below links to video content to support the campaign:

---

• · Make it Matter (1:08 mins) -Hear from our choir as to why Strawberry Field matters to them

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jT96cp5NvOQ&index=2&list=PL7L42bBlNtlOPQ...

---

• The Story Behind the Song (3:49 mins) -Follow our choir as they journey to London to rehearse and record Strawberry Fields Forever at Abbey Road Studios

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t3genXp2RY&index=1&list=PL7L42bBlNtlOPQ...

---

• The Song (2:16 mins) - Listen to the song in its entirety

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_1tHR3ovteM&index=3&list=PL7L42bBlNtlOPQ...

---

• Jordan’s Story (2:36 mins) -Due to his dyspraxia, Jordan left school a shy and isolated teenager with a very unclear future. Since then, not only has he gone on to gain qualifications, he now has two jobs with big ambitions for the future. Beyond that, he’s become a treasured, conscientious member of his community and relishes in the fact that he’s able to give back. Jordan is true inspiration and testament to what young people with learning disabilities can achieve – a real success story of this project

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ugcmXSTuXCg&index=4&list=PL7L42bBlNtlOPQ...

---

Further campaign information including hi-res images of the choir at Abbey Road Studios can be found here with the full press release.  You can also DONATE on this link.