A SELF-CONFESSED 60s enthusiast is helping to organise a 50th anniversary celebration for a Northwich landmark, which played host to the Beatles five times.

John Bayley, a lifelong Middlewich resident and employee of 3J’s Promotions is helping to plan the four-day birthday bash for Northwich Memorial Hall, alongside Cheshire West and Chester Council. (CWAC) The hall, built in 1960, has a rich heritage and has played host to a range of celebrated performers through the years, including Cilla Black, Dusty Springfield and Lulu. It also provided a platform for acts to launch their career.

The anniversary weekend will be marked by a special four-day series of events to cater for all the family. Celebrations will start on Thursday, June 3, with a treat for children, as their favourite TV characters appear live in concert in the Little Big Club, showing at 1pm and 3.30pm.

The main event will be held on Friday, June 4, as The Cavern Beatles take over the hall for one evening only, with their tribute to the Beatle’s finest hits.

This will be followed by a family fun day on Saturday, June 5, from 11am to 3pm, and a Come Dancing special with the Wychcraft Dance Band in the evening, starting at 8.30pm.

The co-organiser, who also arranges his own concerts at the hall, said: “We have more than one event to celebrate the anniversary.

“I think it should rightly be celebrated, and I think that because it is a one-off special event to commemorate the 50 years people will attend.

“It’s going to make people aware of the history of the hall, and this is a great way to do that.”

Talking specifically of the Cavern Beatles concert, he said: “It’s a very special event and it’s going to be a real blast from the past to celebrate the golden era.

“It’s for people to go back in time and relive the music from the 60s for an evening, so it’s bringing a bit of nostalgia back to the area.

“I used to go when I was young, as it was the only venue in Northwich that had live music at that time.

“All the big acts appeared there, like Dusty Springfield, Cliff Richard and Cilla Black.”

Phil Harding, previous manager at the Memorial Hall for 17 years and halls manager for the past two years, said: “That’s what the hall has always been to me – something for everybody – and we wanted to carry this through for the anniversary weekend.

“The actual anniversary of the hall is Tuesday, June 1. We’re very lucky to have the hall, and it’s worth celebrating.”

Clr Richard Short, CWAC portfolio holder for culture and recreation, said that the anniversary was a ‘wonderful occasion’ for celebration, and that it had provided a great source of pleasure for 50 years.

He talked of its future, and said: “Now we have to take a step back and see what we can do for the Memorial Hall.

“So much work needs doing to it – we could gut the building or start afresh.”

Tickets for the various events are available direct from the Memorial Hall. Call 01606 814640 for details.