Former Cavern Club cleaner Hal Morris, who rescued a painting of Ringo Starr from the original club when it closed down in 1973, has had the artwork estimated to be worth £5,000.
The painting was valued by Julien’s Auctions ahead of a special Memorabilia Day at The Beatles Story, where members of the public and collectors were invited to have their memorabilia valued.
The original portrait of the Fab Four drummer deep in thought was painted by artist Pete Williams as he sat next to fellow Beatle John Lennon in the original Cavern Club. While John is not featured in the painting, there is a rough sketch of him wearing his famous spectacles on the reverse side along with the artist’s signature.
The portrait of Ringo, which hung on the wall of the Cavern Club before its closure in March 1973, was hidden away in a drawer at Hal’s Ainsdale home for more than three decades before it was re-discovered a few months ago.
Hal said: "I am absolutely flabbergasted that the painting is worth so much! It was given to me by a builder who was starting to take things down when the Cavern Club closed in March 1973 and it’s been hidden away in a wardrobe at home ever since.
"It would have just ended up in a skip and been lost forever if I hadn’t taken it with me the day the Cavern Club, where I used to clean, closed its doors for the last time."
Martin King of The Beatles Story said: "Regulars of the Cavern Club would remember the Ringo Starr painting that was on the wall. It’s fantastic that Hal has managed to keep the piece so well preserved for all these years.
"It really is remarkable that a picture which was about to end up in a skip in the early 70s is now worth thousands. I am confident that we will uncover many more hidden gems during the special Memorabilia Day we are holding with Julien’s Auctions."
Listen to Hal being interviewed by BBC Radio Merseyside shortly following the valuation at The Beatles Story's 'Memorabilia Day'.
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