John Lennon’s Three Fleetwood Summers

John Lennon lived in Fleetwood for three Summers from 1947 to 1949, just nine miles north of Blackpool. The image below shows him in the front garden of 90 The Esplanade, a large corner house facing the marina in Fleetwood. The background image shows the house as it is today. Lennon’s Aunt Elizabeth ‘Mater’ Parkes was just widowed and working at this address as a live-in housekeeper with her son Stanley, John’s cousin and ‘big brother’.

There are several posts on the timeline showing John Lennon’s connection to Blackpool: John Lennon’s Father’s Home in Blackpool, Cynthia Lennon – Born in Blackpool, The Beatles Perform at the ABC Theatre and James Hanratty, John Lennon and Stevonia Fish & Chips.

This 1948  image above shows John Lennon (at right about age 7) on holiday with cousins ​​Stanley Parkes (about 15) and Leila Parkes (about11) in Fleetwood. Photo by Mark and Colleen Hayward/Getty Images.

90 The Esplanade house as it is today.

The group was photographed by Fred Bolt in 1951, Lennon’s school teacher.

Although this school trip photo above of Lennon with Dovedale Junior School friends was taken in the Isle of Man, it also includes a Blackpool connection – Jimmy Tarbuck.

Lennon is second from left, Jimmy Tarbuck third from left striking a fighter’s pose with fists at the ready, and next to him is Ivan Vaughan who would later introduce John Lennon to Paul McCartney. Michael Hill towers behind them while BBC newsreader Peter Sissons is to the left over Lennon’s shoulder.

The featured image shows a photo that was put up for sale with John’s inscription on the back shown just below: Me at Fleetwood the year I lost my trunks, in Mr Shipway’s garden. It fetched £2200 at auction.

The side garden of 90 The Esplanade as it is today.

This photo was put up for sale with John’s inscription on the back: Me at Fleetwood the year I lost my trunks, in Mr Shipway’s garden. It fetched £2200 at auction.