Alan Williams: A true Liverpudlian remembers the Beatles

I "met" Alan (online, that is) in March 2011, on the 17th to be precise, which means, yes, St Patrick's day and, I'm not exaggerating, I can honestly say I had "the luck of the Irish". I remember the exact date  because to this day I still store (and treasure) each and every message (dozens of them) we've exchanged ever since since that first one. I wrote to him asking if he would give us (I mean, the group of students visiting Liverpool, my dear colleague Gregorio and myself in April that year) a walking tour of the wonderful city of Liverpool. 

Quite by chance, I'd found his name (actually something called "Redjack Tours" - which sadly, as you will find if you click on the link, is closed now) somewhere on the city's official tourist website and decided to email Alan to see if he could help us. And that's what he did, every step of the way before, during and, as far as I'm concerned, after the trip. Rather than just another tour guide, he truly became our guardian angel. I could write pages about Alan's endless, selfless generosity, his warmth and thoughtfulness for all of us, as well as his wonderful British sense of humour. Gregorio and the rest of the Armada, as he fondly calls us, can confirm every word I'm saying.

The Fab ... Three! Alan with the "Dúo Dinámico"

I wouldn't like to make this emotional, heartfelt introduction way too long. He knows how fond of him and his family (especially his lovely wife, Janet, and his gorgeous 9-month old grandson, Harrison) I have become, and how much I value his friendship even if it has been only by mail since we returned from Liverpool, though I'm sure one day soon we'll meet again, either here in Spain or back in England. 

I cannot think of a better way to end our blog for this (academic) year than by posting an entry he's sent me about the Beatles to commemorate their 50th anniversary, after I asked him if he would contribute something for our blog. Thank you so much, Alan, for doing it, but above all for being such a great human being. All of us who are lucky to know you think of you dearly.

So, without more ado, this is what Alan wants to say about the Fab Four:

Being born in Liverpool in 1956, I was only 4 years old when the Beatles started their musical career. In 1970, when they broke up, I was just 14 years old, and so I never had the opportunity to see them at the famous Cavern Club. However, having played guitar in bands from when I was 17 years old, I can truly say that their legacy in Liverpool was a vibrant music scene totally influenced by their genius, with talented people that would otherwise never have surfaced if the Beatles influence had never impacted on their lives. I am proud to be from the city of Liverpool, and it never ceases to amaze me that when I meet people in other parts of the world, and they ask me where I come from, their response is always the same. They always mention the Beatles. Such is the power of their music 50 years on. 

A few years ago I was on holiday in Samos, Greece.  Each morning I went to the local bakery to get our breakfast. On the last day, I told the lady that she needed to open a bakery in my home town, because the bread and cakes were so wonderful. She asked me where I came from, and I said “Liverpool”. Just as I said it, I heard a noise behind me, and it was the baker. He looked at me, and then started to sing …”She loves you yeah yeah yeah”. I just laughed and joined in. It seems it does not matter where you are, everybody knows Liverpool - and the Beatles.

20 years ago, my best friend was working in Latvia, and married a Latvian girl in Riga. As well as the church wedding, there was also an “official ceremony” at the town hall. When they went in to sign the papers, there was a string quartet playing. They must have known my friend was from Liverpool, and in honour of that, they started to play a Beatles' song. The funny thing was that they played “Yesterday”. The words did not quite fit the occasion – “Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away, but now it looks as though they’re here to stay ...” My friend and all his family were very amused by the choice of song.

So thank you John, Paul, George and Ringo, for putting my city on the world stage, and for giving me and many people like me the idea that we too could play music, the result of that being many years of enjoyment. And for the gift of your music, which has helped us all along our own “Long and Winding Roads”.

Hey, it just dawned on me that I videotaped Alan "at work" during his walking tour with us last year in Liverpool and I found just the right bit. Here he was talking to us about a famous statue celebrating one of the most famous Beatles songs, "Eleanor Rigby", which can be found in Stanley Street:

So my dear students, however much I hate saying goodbye, I guess this is the end of the 4th edition of jantigue.blogspot.com. I mean, hopefully I'll start a new one soon! Thank you all from the bottom of my heart for participating, in whichever way, with me on this modest blog and indeed I wish you all the best for this next year.