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I am the Paulrus
Apr 22, 2009, 01:24 PM
Beatles fan re-paints Strawberry Fields gates

by Laura Sharpe, Liverpool Echo

Monday, April 20, 2009

http://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/liverpool-entertainment/the-beatles/the-beatles-news/2009/04/20/beatles-fan-re-paints-strawberry-fields-gates-100252-23422788/

http://images.icnetwork.co.uk/upl/liverpoolecho/apr2009/7/6/strawberry-fields-paint-460-138616042.jpg
Beatles fan Colin Unwin from Rochdale paints the gates to Strawberry Fields in Woolton, Liverpool.

AN angry Beatles fan fed up of years of neglect at Strawberry Field took matters into his own hands over the weekend.

Colin Unwin, 61, travelled from Manchester and spent Saturday painting the famous gates in their original pillar box red.

Colin, who visits Liverpool 14 times a year to re-visit Beatles sites said he was fed up of the neglect and destruction of a key Beatles attraction.

He cleaned off all the graffiti ready for new fans to write their names and removed all the weeds from the overgrown entrance and path.

The janitor of Rochdale Fire Station, said: “I have watched the decline of the site over the past 18 months and decided enough was enough.

“I can’t believe that no-one is looking after the gates which are full of detail and still attract thousands of Beatles fans every year.

“The Beatles were the best band in the world but these gates have been left, stolen, found and pieces stolen off them over the years.”

Colin contacted the Salvation Army, who still own the site after their children’s home on the site closed in January 2005.

They said they were happy for Colin to carry out improvements on the gates.

The name of the home became world famous in 1967, with the release of The Beatles single "Strawberry Fields Forever".

Lennon’s house backed on to the home in Woolton and he used to play near the home and attend their summer parties.
oldbeatlechick
Apr 22, 2009, 01:27 PM
Aww that is so nice of him, what a fabulous fan! Thanks for posting that I am the Paulrus!
ilianna
Apr 22, 2009, 10:58 PM
I would have done the same thing. Why would a place like that be neglected? Well I'm very glad he took it into his own hands.
Lucy
Apr 23, 2009, 12:32 AM
ooooh but hang on, he has painted them the wrong shade of red! That's far too vicious! I'm pleased that I have my precious paint chips from the gates in the deeper darker red.
mluque125
Apr 23, 2009, 06:00 AM
That's wonderful. I've never been there and would have liked to have some of the paint chips from the other one like Lucy does. But, that was really nice of him to do that!
The Duke
Apr 24, 2009, 12:25 AM
Why would a place like that be neglected?
Indeed. And why would Liverpool City Council demolish the Cavern Club, bulldoze it and leave the vacant lot as a carpark for 12 years? It defies understanding. :angry1:The city should be proud to have these REAL landmarks and realize they are important for bringing in tourists and Beatles fans from all over the world.
BeatlesFan4life
Apr 24, 2009, 06:40 PM
The Guy is doing a favor by repainting the gates to Strawberry Fields. He is doing a good thing.
Lucy
Apr 25, 2009, 02:36 AM
Yeah it is a good thing but I just think the colour looks a bit rank. maybe it dried a different colour, I will check it out when I'm next there in a few months!
oldbeatlechick
Apr 25, 2009, 04:57 AM
It could just be that the bright red had faded over the years, it was certainly not the same paint from John's time anyway! It does say that he has painted them the original pillar box red!
lennonluvr9
Apr 25, 2009, 05:18 AM
Aww, now that's really sweet :smile1: Props to him for taking care of it. :clap2:
mari
Apr 27, 2009, 12:29 AM
It could just be that the bright red had faded over the years, it was certainly not the same paint from John's time anyway! It does say that he has painted them the original pillar box red!

Exactly :smile1:




Awww, I really miss Liverpool right now.
jim bennett
May 28, 2009, 07:44 AM
i live by the gates at strawberryfields, and have managed to create a replica of the gates this has taken many years as the gates are very decorative and full of castings, the old blacksmith in woolton who knew the origional blacksmith who made the gates, so the colour of the gates are the colour of a strawberry,but look a bit different with age,my gates when i finish will be this very same colour,pillar box red is not the right colour,and they dont look right.i am hoping to replace the gates, and maybe the origionals can go into the beatles museum....my site when complete will be jbstrawberryfields.com