IN THE PICTURE: LONNIE DONEGAN

July 01, 2018

Lonnie, Lennon & Me

This is the story of my 1957 portrait of the UK's King of Skiffle, Lonnie Donegan - and how it sparked my art school friendship with John Lennon of The Beatles.

I thought I was the bee’s knees, travelling solo to London to stay with a real life popstar and his family, who were delightful and so kind to me. Little did we know at the time that John and Cynthia Lennon (my close friend since Junior Art School) would eclipse them just a few years later.

I also tell how Lonnie and I were reunited in the year 2000, courtesy of a marvellous Channel 4 tribute show to John Lennon, hosted at Air Studios by the late, great Beatles producer George Martin and presented by Jools Holland, at which performers and guests included Liam Gallagher and Kate Moss.