Think Beatlemania was all London glamour and Liverpool grit? Think again. The Fab Four’s autograph history hides a gem: out of just four official record signings ever, two happened in Widnes. Yes, Widnes played host to half of the Beatles’ entire meet-and-greet legacy. That’s not trivia; that’s bragging rights!

On 6^th October 1962. Love Me Do had just dropped, and the Beatles were still more “up-and-coming lads” than global icons. First stop: right here at Dawson’s Music Shop which is now home to Worldchoice Sports. Fans queued for a chance to get their fresh 45 signed by John, Paul, George, and Ringo.

Later that same day, they hit The Music Shop another Widnes institution further down the road for round two. Imagine it: two intimate sessions, no screaming hordes, just a handful of lucky locals clutching vinyl that would one day be worth a fortune.

One of those lucky locals was Pamela Ward who cheekily took an extra-long lunch break from her job at Woolworths when she heard that The Beatles were signing their ‘Love me do’ single. Pamela and a few of her colleagues and friends joined the very long queue where she managed to get her signed copy of the single before getting back to work: where they nearly got the sack. But who can blame her it was The Beatles after all!    Her signed copy can be seen here for auction: Liverpool Beatles Auction: Rare Fully Signed Beatles Love Me Do Single To Be Auctioned In Liverpool in August.

After that, the autograph train rolled on to Liverpool’s NEMS Records in January 1963 and Wimbledon Palais in December.

And then…. Nothing. Beatlemania exploded, and structured signings vanished under a tidal wave of fame. Which makes our Widnes sessions even more extraordinary. Widnes town centre became ground zero for Beatles history.

So next time someone bangs on about Abbey Road or the Cavern Club, drop this bombshell: Widnes didn’t just witness the Beatles, it hosted half of their official signings. For a town known for chemical works and rugby, that’s pure rock ’n’ roll magic.