Stan Williams (author)
Encyclopedia
Stan Williams was a contemporary of the Beatles who, after retiring, authored Penny Lane is in My Ears and in My Eyes which describes memories and insights into the lives of John Lennon
, George Harrison
and others as they grew up in Liverpool
. He once appeared on the same stage as John Lennon when in 1957 he attended skiffle auditions at The Cavern
, to be followed on to the stage minutes later by the Black Jacks, featuring Lennon playing the tea-chest bass in a pair of gloves. The Black Jacks were the embryonic Quarrymen who, after many changes, became the Beatles.
Stan was born in Fern Grove, near Lodge Lane, the son of Nellie (nèe Thomas), an auxiliary nurse, and Arthur, a bus/tram driver. Two sisters had died soon after birth, so Stan was the rather spoilt “young emperor” in the family. After the Luftwaffe
bombed their house, they moved to a much grander, double-fronted terrace on Borrowdale Road, near Sefton Park.
Stan attended Dovedale County Primary School, Liverpool. Peter Sissons
was a classmate, George Harrison was a year behind him, and John Lennon and Jimmy Tarbuck
were a year above him. After Dovedale School, Stan attended Toxteth Technical High School, passing A levels in History, Geography and General Studies. He then completed a BA at Liverpool University followed by a Diploma of Education.
Stan began his teaching career at Elgin Academy, Morayshire, Scotland
until moving to Earlston
on the Scottish border as the country's first Principal Teacher of Modern Studies
. In 1975, Stan moved to Fraserburgh Academy as head of the Modern Studies department where he served until retiring in 2001.
Prior to writing Penny Lane is in My Ears and in My Eyes, which was launched in October, 2008, Stan was a writing contributor to the Beatles fan club.
John Lennon
John Winston Lennon, MBE was an English musician and singer-songwriter who rose to worldwide fame as one of the founding members of The Beatles, one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed acts in the history of popular music...
, George Harrison
George Harrison
George Harrison, MBE was an English musician, guitarist, singer-songwriter, actor and film producer who achieved international fame as lead guitarist of The Beatles. Often referred to as "the quiet Beatle", Harrison became over time an admirer of Indian mysticism, and introduced it to the other...
and others as they grew up in Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
. He once appeared on the same stage as John Lennon when in 1957 he attended skiffle auditions at The Cavern
The Cavern Club
The Cavern Club is a rock and roll club in Liverpool, England. Opened on Wednesday 16 January 1957, the club had their first performance by The Beatles on 9 February 1961, and where Brian Epstein first saw The Beatles performing on 9 November 1961....
, to be followed on to the stage minutes later by the Black Jacks, featuring Lennon playing the tea-chest bass in a pair of gloves. The Black Jacks were the embryonic Quarrymen who, after many changes, became the Beatles.
Stan was born in Fern Grove, near Lodge Lane, the son of Nellie (nèe Thomas), an auxiliary nurse, and Arthur, a bus/tram driver. Two sisters had died soon after birth, so Stan was the rather spoilt “young emperor” in the family. After the Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
bombed their house, they moved to a much grander, double-fronted terrace on Borrowdale Road, near Sefton Park.
Stan attended Dovedale County Primary School, Liverpool. Peter Sissons
Peter Sissons
Peter George Sissons is a broadcast journalist in the United Kingdom. He was the presenter of the BBC Nine O'Clock News and the BBC News at Ten between 1993 and 2003, as earlier a newscaster for ITN, providing bulletins on ITV and Channel 4. He is also a former presenter of the BBC's Question Time...
was a classmate, George Harrison was a year behind him, and John Lennon and Jimmy Tarbuck
Jimmy Tarbuck
Jimmy Tarbuck OBE or Tarby is an English comedian. Growing up he was a schoolmate of John Lennon.His first television show was It's Tarbuck 65! on ITV in 1964. He has also hosted numerous quiz shows, including Winner Takes All, Full Swing, and Tarby's Frame Game...
were a year above him. After Dovedale School, Stan attended Toxteth Technical High School, passing A levels in History, Geography and General Studies. He then completed a BA at Liverpool University followed by a Diploma of Education.
Stan began his teaching career at Elgin Academy, Morayshire, Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
until moving to Earlston
Earlston
Earlston , formerly Ercildoune, is a civil parish and market town in the county of Berwickshire, within the Scottish Borders. It is situated on the River Leader in Lauderdale, Scotland.-Early history:...
on the Scottish border as the country's first Principal Teacher of Modern Studies
Modern Studies
Modern Studies is a subject unique to the Scottish secondary school curriculum , that is concerned with the study of local, national and international issues from a social, political and economic perspective...
. In 1975, Stan moved to Fraserburgh Academy as head of the Modern Studies department where he served until retiring in 2001.
Prior to writing Penny Lane is in My Ears and in My Eyes, which was launched in October, 2008, Stan was a writing contributor to the Beatles fan club.