On May 24, 2024, Historic England unveiled a national blue plaque commemorating George Harrison – music icon, songwriter and humanitarian – at his birthplace, 12 Arnold Grove in Wavertree, Liverpool.
The unveiling ceremony was performed by George’s wife Olivia Harrison, with Historic England’s Chief Executive Duncan Wilson, and introduced by Journalist, Broadcaster, and Blue Plaques panel member, Samira Ahmed.
Historic England’s National Blue Plaque Scheme, announced by the Department for culture, media and sport in September 2023, celebrates people throughout history, from all walks of life, who have made significant contributions to human welfare or happiness, and/or who have made an exceptional impact in their field, community or on society at large.
To be eligible for a blue plaque, the person being nominated must have been dead for at least 20 years, meet the criteria noted in the previous paragraph, and have at least one building associated with them that survives in a form the commemorated person would recognise, and which is visible from the public highway.
There are already two official blue plaques erected to John Lennon. One is at 34 Montagu Square in Marylebone, London, and the other is on his former home at 251 Menlove Avenue, Liverpool.
There are no blue plaques for Paul or Ringo,
and given the conditions of eligibility, it will hopefully remain that way for
a long time.
George was born in the two-up / two-down Victorian terraced house on 25 February 1943, and lived here until he was nearly seven years old, when his family left Arnold Grove in 1950 having finally reached the top of the social housing list they’d been on for nearly 20 years.
As the youngest of four children, George grew up part of a tight-knit family who had strong connections to Wavertree. George’s parents Harold and Louise were born and grew up in the area, and his maternal grandparents lived in the adjacent street at 11 Albert Grove.
Recalling the house in his 1980 autobiography, ‘I, Me, Mine’, George recalled, ‘to look at it is just like ‘Coronation Street’: No garden, door straight on to the street… [but] it was ok that house.’
The unveiling took place in front of a VIP
audience of Harrison family members, politicians and people connected to the local
Beatle heritage scene. Oh, and myself
and fellow Beatles’ historian and blogger Steve Bradley.
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| George Harrison's birthplace at 12 Arnold Grove |
We turned up an hour ahead of the 11am unveiling, and walked the short distance from the end of Arnold Grove to position ourselves directly opposite the house. I sat on a bollard, as Steve engaged in conversation with a gentleman he’d been emailing at Historic England as preparations continued around us. I looked back down to the far end of the street where people in hi-vis jackets were already starting to assemble a pedestrian barrier which I predicted would soon be employed to close off Arnold Grove to prevent it from becoming too overcrowded. I could hear other Historic England (HE) staff talking about VIP wristbands, and how they would have to ask anyone not wearing one to make their way back to where the barrier was being erected. I had my camera bag with me, so I sat tight, pretending to be a member of the press. In the meantime, Steve was asking his HE contact whether he could source two wristbands for us. He said we would have to wait for now on the other side of the barrier but depending on the number of people who turned up he would see what he could do for us. Shortly afterwards we found ourselves being shepherded out of Arnold Grove.
With immaculate timing I spotted a friend on the local Beatles’ scene, someone I knew would most definitely have a VIP wristband. After chatting for a moment, I stepped aside as a member of HE approached him and his party, and invited them to make their way down to the rear entrance of Wavertree Town Hall, where a pre-unveiling VIP reception was underway.
Fearing we would get kicked out at any
minute, we tried to keep a low profile, but when representatives from HE started
checking names and handing out VIP wristbands we thought our time was up. To
our surprise and relief, my friend motioned in the direction of myself and
Steve, and we watched as two additional wristbands were handed to him and then passed
our way. We couldn’t believe it, we were
in!
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| The (V.I.P) crowd and residents mingle in Arnold Grove before the unveiling |
At the appointed time we made our way back to Arnold Grove where a decent sized crowd had assembled on both sides of the barrier. Flashing my wristband as subtly as a lady would her new engagement ring, I walked through the security guards and went straight back to where I’d been sitting 30 minutes earlier. At the dead end of the cul-de-sac, a stage had been erected where Paul Jones from the Cavern Club was now performing a selection of George Harrison tunes to warm up the crowd.
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| Paul Jones from the Cavern Club performing 'Here Comes The Sun' |
I spotted Samira Ahmed, the respected broadcaster and journalist. That she also happens to be a huge Beatles’ fan, is something that has only come to the attention of the Beatles’ world over the last few years after several excellent guest appearances on the ' I Am The Egg Pod' podcast, through interviewing Paul McCartney and Paul Muldoon at the 2021 launch for the book ‘The Lyrics', and, most recently in 2023 when Samira was instrumental in unearthing a previously unheard live recording of the Beatles at Stowe School, from 4 April 1963, to date the earliest known UK concert audio.
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| Duncan Wilson of Historic England, and Olivia Harrison |
As 11a.m. approached I noticed that the crowd within Arnold Grove had started to get thicker as the invited guests mingled with the residents and I saw Olivia Harrison and several local M.P.s had taken up position close to the front door of no. 12. A source later told me that prior to the unveiling ceremony Olivia and friends had been treated to an open-topped bus tour of Liverpool. It’s only a pity the weather wasn’t a little brighter.
Samira took to the stage to open proceedings:
Samira Ahmed – Morning everyone and welcome to 12 Arnold
Grove, Wavertree, Liverpool. My name is Samira Ahmed, I’m a journalist and a broadcaster,
and I think I speak for many when I say I grew up under the spell cast by
George Harrison and the Beatles, and the dreamland of Liverpool that inspired
him, inspired them, and through them inspired people around the world.
When I was 10 years old, a distant cousin of
mine, an Indian merchant seaman, gave me George Harrison’s 1979 album, called George
Harrison, and said ‘oh, George Harrison’s a friend of mine’, and he gave me
this view, and it seems quite appropriate that there was something of the
tall-storytelling about how I got that record, and I remember studying the
cover for cultural references, and clues that showed that my cousin Ravi really
did know George Harrison, and there was this great mystery about him, there was
the music, there was the cultural references to India, and I think back to my whole
childhood and the music that he created, his own wry presence in films, his own
contribution to films.
The film director Bruce Robinson told me how
central George Harrison was to making Withnail and I, one of the
greatest of the many great British films that George Harrison enabled through Handmade
Films, Monty Python’s Life Of Brian, and Time Bandits to name two
others.
Culturally he embodied and embraced
everything that made post-war Britain exciting, drawing inspiration from George
Formby and ukuleles, Sooty and Sweep, and crucially, Indian culture which was hugely
important to children like myself growing up in the sixties and seventies, that
his open-mindedness and his embracing of Indian culture at a time of racial intolerance
made so many of us think again about our own parent’s culture.
I know that George Harrison felt mixed about
school and authority, but at this house he was happy, and I know in his
autobiography ‘I, Me, Mine’ he wrote ‘it was ok that house, it was very
pleasant being little, and it was always sunny in the summer.’
There is something hugely inspiring about this little boy, with a passion for the guitar, who travelled across the city as Paul McCartney told me, to learn a single new chord that he’d heard about. He modelled excellence with such single mindedness, I can’t help wondering how he’d really be thinking about getting a blue plaque on this house, but I hope the approval of a blue plaque would make George Harrison smile wryly.
We are going to hear from Olivia Harrison
shortly, but I’d now like to welcome Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive of Historic
England.
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| Duncan Wilson welcomes Olivia Harrison to the stage |
Duncan Wilson - Hello everyone, and on behalf of Historic England thank you Liverpool, thank you Arnold Grove, for giving us this fantastic opportunity to launch our blue plaque scheme outside of London. It’s long overdue, that we have blue plaques all over England, and I think that this is just such a great example, because I know George Harrison was really connected to this place, and it is all about the connection between people and places, and I can’t think of a better example of that than 12 Arnold Grove. So, on behalf of Historic England, thank you so much, do join in with nominations to our national scheme which opens today on our website, and over to Olivia to say some more personal words about George, thank you.
Olivia Harrison – Well, I’m more emotional than I thought I would be, thank you Samira, Duncan and Historic England, it’s so great to see these plaques outside of London, for the first time since 1866(?), thank you to the Mayor, and Lord Mayor, M.P.’s for Wavertree and Liverpool Riverside, for being with us here today.
Pride is not a word that I would attach to George, because
he didn’t have that sentiment, but we’re so proud of him, and I think he would
be too, because there are some honours you can imagine, or dream of receiving, if you’re an actor you may see yourself holding
an Oscar, a musician a Grammy, but no one imagines that one day their
birthplace will warrant the recognition of who they were, as a person or what
they’d done.
In fact, in 1995, after the Beatles
Anthology aired on national television, and revived another moment of
Beatlemania, he said to me, ‘well, I guess it’s not going away’ and I said ‘no,
George, it’s not going away’, in fact the further away from the Beatle
phenomenon that time takes us, the more certain their incredible legacy will be
linked with Liverpool. It is also evident that George was born in a city that
encouraged him to become who he was meant to be.
When George spoke about Arnold Grove, in his
book ‘I, Me, Mine’ he was describing his first memories, in an unsure world, a
world that literally shook his infancy, the bombs, the sirens, hiding under the
stairs in this house with his mother Louise and his brother Peter, but also a
secure world, because his Nan was down the alley in Albert Grove, and he could
run to visit her all on his own.
Maybe the cosy corners of Arnold Grove was so
tight-knit. There’s a specialness about living in such close family quarters, I
know, we were seven in three bedrooms, one of them was our parent’s. We learned
to trust each other, and respect the space of one another, and yet once out of
his cocoon, George’s metamorphosis was immense.
Yes, he migrated south…and west, and east… [she paused at this point to compose herself]
… but his star was in the north, and his values were established here, and
his dreams began here where he listened to music, his stories of the wireless
with his Mum [pauses again].
He was interested in all forms of music, and
philosophies, maybe he was influenced by the diversity of this port city, that
brought flavours from afar. Rock and Roll from the west, and ragas from India.
He was not blind to the suffering of others
in faraway places. Former secretary general of the United Nations Kofi Anan
said George was a pioneer, he used his fame to mobilise the forces of Rock and
Roll for the sake of others. He established a charitable foundation in 1973
that still helps others at home and beyond these shores. He grew up where he
could see the horizon, I think that is what gave him the longing to find out
more, about the word outside, and the world within.
When we travelled, and on tour, he was Mr
Arnold Grove, I was Mrs Arnold Grove, and Dhani was Albert Grove, and when destiny
took him from here, he took the name of this cul-de-sac with him, and we are
filled with gratitude and pride, that you have brought George Harrison’s name back
home.
He and his music left a footprint on this
world, on this country, on this great city, and on the cobblestones and pavement
of 12 Arnold Grove. Thank you.
Olivia, then climbed off the stage and moved over to stand outside no. 12, ready to unveil the plaque. I manoeuvred my way in among the accredited press photographers and knelt in the semi-circle they had formed only a few feet from her.
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| Olivia unveils the plaque for George on 12 Arnold Grove |
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| Olivia waving to the Arnold Grove neighbours positioned in their upstairs windows. She thanked them for putting up with the disruption in their street. |
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| These young ladies are pupils at Dovedale, George's former school who were winners in a George Harrison painting competition |
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| Olivia with Mayors and local Politicians including Paula Barker, Steve Rotheram and Kim Johnson |
I sat outside the house, in the car with Olivia, a couple of years ago…no one was in, so we sat outside and imagined what it was like inside now. Probably it has had the fireplace knocked out and one of those little tiled jobs put in and it has probably got hot water now…. (George Harrison, ‘I, Me, Mine’, published 1980)
When she came back out she gave interviews to BBC television news and Radio Merseyside.
Asked how she feels George would have
reacted to the plaque, Olivia told reporters that 'he would probably be more nervous for the
people who live inside.' She explained
that George was 'always concerned about everybody else' and would have been
hoping that visitors coming to view the plaque would not 'bug' the current
residents.
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| Samira Ahmed with Olivia Harrison |
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| Love this one. (Good Ol') Freda Kelly, the Beatles Liverpool fan club secretary is introduced to Olivia. |
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While this was going on, we got talking to one of the Arnold Grove residents who lived directly opposite George’s house. He’d lived there about ten years and wasn’t aware of the Beatles’ connection when he moved in. When did he find out? ‘About 5 minutes after you moved in’ I answered for him. He said he didn’t mind, and this view appeared to be common amongst most of the residents, many of whom had stood with front doors and upstairs windows wide open while the unveiling was underway. They seemed to have embraced the whole Harrison connection, and dare I say it, were a little bit proud of the fact that someone who became famous on such a global scale had started life in their little street.
When did the residents first find out about
the unveiling? ‘Thursday’ he replied (i.e. the day before) ‘but I’ve heard we
should have been made aware earlier than that.
We all knew something was up when the council emptied the bins on
Monday.’
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| Me with Samira Ahmed |
Spotting Samira Ahmed we decided to go and have a little chat and ask for a photo. We thanked her for her memorable Eggpod appearances (she asked if we were going to the Eggpod event in Holland Park on 6 July – alas not) and for her work in bringing the Stowe School tape to the attention of the general public. As hoped, she was absolutely lovely.
When Olivia left the house, the event began to wind down and the guests returned to Wavertree Town Hall for a lunch reception, continuing the celebration of George’s life and contributions to music and culture. Whether by design or simply due to convenience the Town Hall was an appropriate venue to host the event. In February 1943 Harold Harrison had registered George’s birth here.
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| The after-party at Wavertree Town Hall |
As we still had our wristbands, we were able to enter the reception and mix freely with the guests, standing only a few feet from Olivia as she conversed with those who positioned themselves in front of her under the watchful eye of her security man. We didn’t feel it was appropriate to ‘bug’ her and ask for selfies and the like and so, after enjoying the buffet we decided to say our goodbyes and head to the nearby Coffee House for a pint and some post- match analysis.
We agreed we had had another very successful day ‘Beatling’, and had been very lucky to have been in such proximity to the event, for which we must send heartfelt thanks to our friend once again.
© Mark Ashworth, 27 May 2024
Historic England Press Release:
Olivia Harrison, George’s wife,
said: “This blue plaque recognition of George’s birthplace is a source of
family pride for all the Harrisons, and something that none of us, mainly
George, would ever have anticipated. So much of who George was came from being
born and spending his earliest years at 12 Arnold Grove, undeniably a part of
who George was. He left a footprint on this world, on this country, in this
city and on this street.”
Duncan Wilson, Chief Executive,
Historic England said: "For many years, local residents and fans have
longed for a blue plaque marking the place where George Harrison’s exceptional
life story began. I am thrilled that we can make that a reality and we are now
inviting people across England to submit their own nominations for the person
they would most like to see recognised in this way. Blue plaques capture the
lasting connection between people and places, inspiring local pride now and for
generations to come.”
Culture Secretary Lucy
Frazer said: “For almost 150 years the London blue plaque scheme has
celebrated figures from the past, helping the public to learn about and honour
the rich history of the capital. Now everyone across the country has the
opportunity to nominate the people who shaped their local area.
“There can't be a
more fitting recipient to mark the opening of public nominations than one of
Liverpool's Fab Four, George Harrison. His skill as a musician and songwriter
is celebrated all over the world and has inspired many to embark on a career in
music, but it is here in the place of his birth that his legacy is strongest
felt.
“I encourage
everyone to think about the local heroes they want to see commemorated and
nominate them for a blue plaque."
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the
Liverpool City Region, said: “Throughout his incredible life, George would
often come home to Liverpool to re-live the memories that shaped his childhood.
His career might have taken him around the world – but he never lost his love
for this city.
“He was also a
deeply spiritual man who used his platform to spread a message of peace and
acceptance, which are values that Scousers are renowned for. It is for that
reason that George will always be regarded as one of Liverpool’s greatest sons
and it is wonderful to see a permanent tribute to his life in the community
that helped to raise him.”
THE NATIONAL BLUE
PLAQUE SCHEME IS RUN BY HISTORIC ENGLAND ON BEHALF OF THE DEPARTMENT FOR
CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT (DCMS). IT IS DESIGNED TO HIGHLIGHT THE STORIES OF
INSPIRATIONAL PEOPLE, FROM ALL WALKS OF LIFE, INCLUDING PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES
WHOSE HISTORY HAS BEEN HIDDEN OR FORGOTTEN, WHO HAVE MADE A SIGNIFICANT
CONTRIBUTION TO HUMAN WELFARE OR HAPPINESS.
THE UNVEILING MARKS
THE START OF THE EIGHT-WEEK PUBLIC NOMINATION PERIOD FOR THE NEW NATIONAL BLUE
PLAQUE SCHEME. EVERYONE IS INVITED TO SUBMIT THEIR OWN NOMINATIONS FOR THE
PERSON THEY WOULD MOST LIKE TO SEE RECOGNISED WITH A PRESTIGIOUS HISTORIC
ENGLAND BLUE PLAQUE.
Public Nominations
FROM 24 MAY TO 19 JULY ANYONE CAN nominate individuals of their choice for a blue plaque via the Historic England website. This nomination window will close on 19 July.
To be eligible, the
person being nominated must:
- Have died at
least 20 years ago
- Have made a
significant contribution to human welfare or happiness and/or who have
made an exceptional impact in their field, community or on society at
large
- Have at least
one building associated with them that survives well and where a plaque
would be clearly visible from a public highway. Blue plaques celebrate the
relationship between people and places, for example where they were born,
worked, lived or died. Because of this, plaques need to be on surviving
buildings where there is evidence of a meaningful connection with the
person commemorated.
The full criteria
can be found on the Historic England website (link goes live from 24 May). As
the scheme develops, nominations will also be open to commemorate groups of
people (duos, groups, societies, organisations) and significant events.
IN ORDER TO
ENCOURAGE A WIDE RANGE OF BLUE PLAQUE NOMINATIONS FROM THE PUBLIC, HISTORIC
ENGLAND IS ALSO INVITING COMMUNITY GROUPS TO APPLY FOR ITS NEW COMMUNITY
RESEARCH GRANTS VIA THEIR WEBSITE. THESE GRANTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR ORGANISATIONS
WORKING WITH HISTORIANS OR RESEARCHERS WHO WANT TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT
HISTORICAL FIGURES WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR A NATIONAL BLUE PLAQUE.
HISTORIC ENGLAND
HOPES THAT THROUGH FUNDING THIS WORK THERE WILL BE AN INCREASE IN THE DIVERSITY
OF PEOPLE NOMINATED FOR BLUE PLAQUES AND THAT THIS NEW RESEARCH WILL UNCOVER
UNTOLD STORIES IN DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES AND PLACES. FUNDING WILL BE UP TO
£7,000 PER PROJECT.
DONATE
THE HISTORIC
ENGLAND FOUNDATION IS AN INDEPENDENT CHARITY THAT RAISES FUNDS FOR OUTSTANDING
HERITAGE PROJECTS. WITH THE SUPPORT OF GENEROUS FUNDERS AND INDIVIDUALS, THE
FOUNDATION BUILDS ON THE WORK OF HISTORIC ENGLAND, THE PUBLIC BODY THAT HELPS
PEOPLE CARE FOR, ENJOY AND CELEBRATE THE HISTORY THAT SURROUNDS US. THE
FOUNDATION FUNDS PROJECTS THAT IMPROVE PEOPLE'S LIVES AND PROTECT THE HISTORIC
ENVIRONMENT, BUT CAN'T BE FUNDED BY GOVERNMENT ALONE, FROM SMALL AND INNOVATIVE
PILOT SCHEMES TO MAJOR NATIONAL INTERVENTIONS. TO DONATE TO THE BLUE PLAQUES
SCHEME, SELECT ‘BLUE PLAQUES’ IN THE DROP-DOWN MENU HERE:
HTTPS://HISTORICENGLANDFOUNDATION.ORG.UK/HOW-TO-DONATE/DONATE
ABOUT THE LONDON BLUE PLAQUE SCHEME
LONDON’S FAMOUS
BLUE PLAQUES LINK PEOPLE OF THE PAST WITH BUILDINGS OF THE PRESENT. THE LONDON
BLUE PLAQUE SCHEME WAS STARTED IN 1866 AND IS THOUGHT TO BE THE OLDEST OF ITS
KIND IN THE WORLD. ENGLISH HERITAGE HAS RUN THE LONDON BLUE PLAQUES SCHEME
SINCE 1986. IT HAS INSPIRED MANY SIMILAR SCHEMES IN THE UK AND AROUND THE
WORLD.
ABOUT HISTORIC ENGLAND
WE ARE HISTORIC
ENGLAND, THE PUBLIC BODY THAT HELPS PEOPLE CARE FOR, ENJOY AND CELEBRATE
ENGLAND’S SPECTACULAR HISTORIC ENVIRONMENT, FROM BEACHES AND BATTLEFIELDS TO
PARKS AND PIE SHOPS. WE PROTECT, CHAMPION AND SAVE THE PLACES THAT DEFINE WHO
WE ARE WHERE WE’VE COME FROM AS A NATION. WE CARE PASSIONATELY ABOUT THE
STORIES THEY TELL, THE IDEAS THEY REPRESENT AND THE PEOPLE WHO LIVE, WORK AND
PLAY AMONG THEM. WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES AND SPECIALISTS WE SHARE OUR PASSION,
KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS TO INSPIRE INTEREST, CARE AND CONSERVATION, SO EVERYONE
CAN KEEP ENJOYING AND LOOKING AFTER THE HISTORY THAT SURROUNDS US ALL.
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