Liverpool Beatles Tours

A Day in the Life for the Trip of a Lifetime

Richard Starkey was born on 7^th July 1940 at 9, Madryn Street (left). By the time he was three, his mum and dad divorced, with Ritchie Senior moving out of the house and back in with his parents at the bottom of Madryn Street, number 59. The grandparents would baby-sit young Ritchie sometimes, but the relationship between his parents was not good, and living in the same street was awkward. A bigger problem was the rent that was high. Elsie Starkey had to work to pay the rent, which was becoming more difficult, so she moved to 10, Admiral Grove, (right)when Ritchie was only 5. This was where he grew up, and where most of his childhood memories are. Elsie worked as a barmaid at the Wellington Pub and Yates' in Liverpool to pay the rent, and not in The Empress as has been thought.

His parents were married in St. Silas Church on High Park Street, where baby Ritchie was christened.

He attended St. Silas School on High Park Street, just a few minutes from his house. At the age of nearly seven, he was rushed to the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital on Myrtle Street after his appendix burst and he was very ill. He recovered, earning the nickname of "Lazarus" for his miraculous recovery.

He moved on to Dingle Vale Secondary Modern School at the age of 11, but again was ill when he contracted tuberculosis at the age of 13, meaning he missed school for the next year or more. He was moved to the Royal Liverpool Children's Hospital in Heswall, where his love for drumming was stimulated by childhood friend Marie Maguire. He worked for a short time for the railways, and was sent to Riversdale College for training.

His musical career started with his friends from work, including Eddie Miles, his next-door neighbour from 11, Admiral Grove They played at Peel Hall and were the resident band at the Florence Institute on Mill Street.

He joined The Beatles on 18^th August 1962 as replacement for Pete Best, making his debut at Hulme Hall (right) in Port Sunlight.

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