Fan Archive Beatles Sheffield - FABS

18/09/2026

A ground breaking businessman with an intriguing Sheffield - Beatles link ....

A ground breaking businessman with an intriguing Sheffield – Beatles link Just 300 yards from the Royal Victoria Hotel where Harry Epstein and Queenie Hyman held their wedding reception is another fascinating Sheffield connection. Pablo Fanque (1796–1871 born William Derby) was Britain’s first...

10/09/2026

A lesser known Sheffield / Beatles connection, and an incredible woman. A short introduction to an incredible life here, and I cannot wait to share my longer biography of Judith Simons later in the year...

From Hillsborough to the heart of Beatlemania Judith Simons was a Sheffield-born journalist who found herself at the centre of one of the biggest cultural revolutions of the twentieth century. Raised in Hillsborough, she began her working life at the Sheffield Telegraph before travelling to post-war...

10/09/2026

A 'magic' Sheffield / Beatles connection. Two important figures in modern wicca crosses paths with a cultural phenomenon. Another little piece of Sheffield’s wonderfully unexpected Beatles-era history

The Sheffield Wiccans whose story crossed paths with The Beatles Sheffield has another unusual Beatles connection. In October 1964, Arnold Crowther, High Priest of the Sheffield Coven, claimed the Beatles’ phenomenal success was due to the occult: “The Beatles got to the top by magic! When you h...

10/09/2026

Local lad Jerry Stevens who went from pattern cutter to a beloved entertainer with a Beatles connection...

From Sheffield working men’s clubs to The Beatles’ final British tour Born Gerard Pinder in Sheffield, Jerry Stevens was a singer, comedian, impressionist and compère who rose from local working men’s clubs to become one of Britain’s popular variety entertainers of the 1960s. Before enterin...

31/08/2026

Back from International Beatleweek , where Beatles historian Mark Lewisohn talked about the importance of preserving the stories of those who were there, which struck rather a chord! Get in touch if you remember the Beatles coming to Sheffield x

10/08/2026

A new fantastic contribution from Ann and Dave, telling the story of how Dave, Barry and Reg got to know and knock about with four lads from Liverpool.

I love this story, from Dave’s ingenious Friday-night ruse to hang out with his pals, to the smell of a Sunday dinner simmering on the hob waiting for Barry’s return from Liverpool. I think this is a particularly special one. ❤️

Ann and Dave remember the story of Barry, Reg and their meetings with John Lennon and Paul McCartney. Their memories were recorded separately and reflect their own perspectives of events that took place in 1963. Photographs mentioned in this interview are held privately and will not be reproduced on...

13/07/2026

An unexpected encounter at the bar for John Baxter....

I was “caddying” for my father while he played golf at Bamford (Sicklehome) on the Sunday after the Sheffield performance. As usual, after playing he went to the Marquis of Granby Hotel for a couple of pints before going home for lunch, and I sat in the bar with him and his friends. After a […...

01/07/2026

30/06/2026

A wonderful memory shared by Janet, who was 14 when she saw The Beatles at Sheffield City Hall in May 1963. I especially love her recollection of the now-removed seats behind the stage!

I was 14 when The Beatles appeared at Sheffield City Hall in 1963. Originally Roy Orbison was topping the bill, but Please Please Me had just reached number one, so The Beatles topped the bill and he was moved to second place. In those days there were seats behind the stage, but during the concert [...