Exclusive Exhibit Launch at The Beatles Museum, Liverpool

I would never be up before 10am, especially if I didn't have a lecture to make until 12pm... but today was a special exception and I was awake at 7am. I don't know how a school-aged me used to wake up at that time (and sometimes earlier!) five times a week, because it was so difficult!

But it was all worth it.

At 9am, there was to be the launch of a new exhibit at the Beatles Museum on Mathew Street, which is owned by the family of Pete Best, who was the drummer in The Beatles between 1960 and 1962.

I arrived about fifteen minutes early, and was the youngest person in line by about thirty years. This made me feel a little out of place, but I was itching with excitement as it had been announced that the special guest for the event would be none other than Pete Best - and I wanted to meet him so badly.

I was one of the first let inside the building at a few minutes to 9. I've been to the museum twice before, but still found myself fascinated as I wandered around looking at the different items on show, most of which had been owned by Pete Best or Neil Aspinall, who was The Beatles' first 'roadie' and worked for them for many years once they hit the big time.

At about 9:30am, Roag Best began speaking, starting with a funny anecdote about his children teasing him about being Pete Best's brother, and known by Amazon's Alexa as nothing else. Pete Best was then introduced, and he came through the crowd. I couldn't believe that I was looking at a man who had once played with my favourite band - and he was standing about six foot from me!

He told a funny story about the band's time in Hamburg and how friend Neil Aspinall had - at Best's request - designed a set of posters, making two copies of each. It became clear at this point that the items which were to be revealed to us in a few moment's time were said posters. Pete said that he had kept a complete set of the posters to himself for the last sixty-or-so years, but now he was going to share them with others.

And the three designs were the only complete set in the world.

He pulled the white cloth from the three easels which had been erected at the front of the room, and read them out for any who could not see what they said. They were basic posters, each with only a few words on.

The Beatles Are Coming

Here Soon The Beatles

The Fabulous Beatles Direct From Hamburg. Admission 1 -

Pete explained that one shilling to see The Beatles was asking for about 5p in today's money. He and Roag then joked that they would even pay 10p to see The Beatles!

After that, we were given the chance to mooch around the museum and get close up to the posters. Of course, everybody flocked to Pete and I was no different. I wanted him to sign some things for me; a picture disc of the Decca tapes - on which he played - and two photos. I also wanted to take a photo with him. He is, afterall, as close to a Beatle as I am likely to get.

I waited for what felt like ages, but eventually my turn came. He signed for me quite happily, and then we posed for a photo. It is only afterwards that I learnt he usually does not sign more than two things for somebody at a time. Whoops. I am over-the-moon with my autographs, though.

I hung around for a little bit after until I could grab Roag Best, who I had texted about an interview with Pete a few weeks before the event.

He told me that I could have my interview once everybody clears out a little - and I definitely didn't expect that!

Pete was reintroduced to me when there was only a few people left about half an hour later. He smiled and was very kind, and we were then taken upstairs to the office where it was quiet. This was very important for me so that I could record the interview on my phone and ensure that any quotes were written correctly.

Patiently, Pete sat with me for about half an hour answering my questions - which definitely were not the most original! I asked about 'the thing': a pile of vomit which had erupted from a drunken George Harrison one night in Hamburg, and which had been fed drinks and cigarette butts before it was eventually cleared up - to the sadness of The Beatles. I also asked about his solo work with the Pete Best Band and whether there would be any new music coming from them soon as I had enjoyed their last album.

He was definitely very sweet, and listened intently as I told him at the end of the interview of my love for the band and their time in Hamburg in the very early sixties. I thanked him for the interview and said I would text Roag the link to the interview as soon as I had written it. I hope that he reads it when it is done.

Meeting Pete Best today was an incredible honour, and I can't believe that it happened to me. The man played with The Beatles, for crying out loud! It was amazing to be there for the unveiling of the new exhibit, too. It really was incredibly exciting.