Lennon's school 'hid any trace' of him after fame

John Lennon's desk from his time at Quarry Bank School

A desk used by John Lennon has gone on display after it was discovered in the attic of a school where he had become known as a "nuisance" and a "bit of a bully".

A new display at the Liverpool Beatles Museum features Lennon's desk from Quarry Bank School, as well as items including the enrolment ledger which recorded details of him passing the 11-plus exam.

Design and technology teacher Tom Barry, who works at what is now The Calderstones School, said there had long been rumours about what had happened to Lennon's desk.

The school had apparently been keen to hide any trace of him when the band rose to fame because it did not consider him a good role model.

'Written proof'

Mr Barry said the desk was hidden away after The Beatles' rise to fame.

"The story is that [head teacher] Bill Pobjoy asked the caretaker, known as Yozzer, to unscrew John's old school desk from the history room and put it into storage.

"That's been locked away for years and they lost the key so we had to beat the door down to get to it.

"The rumour had circulated through the school and we weren't quite sure if it was actually the desk belonging to John, but we've now found a document from the headmaster's PA which notes down the task for the caretaker, so we have written proof."

Mr Barry said that while there were rumours Lennon had carved his name into the wood, they had not been able to find anything.

He added: "It's one of those old-fashioned lift-up desks but it's locked and we don't want to break it open so it could be there is something inside."

The school register contains details of one John Winston Lennon, who was born on 9 October 1940

The school is starting to offer tours for Beatles' fans, where they will be able to see spots including the stage where he performed with his first band, The Quarrymen, at a school dance.

Lennon formed The Quarrymen with schoolfriends before Sir Paul McCartney and George Harrison joined.

The tours will also show the wall that originally separated Lennon and his classmates from the neighbouring girls' school, which the young musician was known for scaling.

For years, though, many teachers at the school were keen to downplay its significant role in The Beatles' history.

'Bit of a bully'

Mr Barry said: "When John left, he was that much of a nuisance and a bully and that much of a poor student the school staff didn't want to acknowledge that he ever went to the school and removed any trace of him.

"He was never spoken about, he was never acknowledged through Beatlemania.

"Apparently fans would come to the school gates and just be sent away because the school didn't want any connection to him.

"They didn't want to idolise him and for students to think you can prat about and be a bit of a bully and still be successful."

Mr Barry said today's pupils were well aware they were walking down the same corridors as Lennon.

He said: "At the start of the year we always have new students coming in who are so happy to tell us 'this is where John Lennon went to school' and we say 'We know, we work here!'"

The desk and ledger, along with old school signs and uniforms from the Beatle's schooldays, can be seen at the museum on Mathew Street.