Lennon forever

ALMERIA’s city hall and the Diputacion provincial council have played an important part in this year’s Almeria Beatles Weekend.

The event which has been held in Almeria province since 2017 to celebrate its link with the Beatles and, more specifically John Lennon, returns this time with the backing of both city hall and the Diputacion.

Lennon spent six weeks in Almeria province in 1966 filming Richard Lester’s cult comedy, How I Won the War, and it was while he was here that he wrote Strawberry Fields Forever.

“You don’t need motives or excuses to boast about the Beatles’ close link with Almeria thanks to John Lennon’s visit,” said the Diego Cruz, city hall’s Culture and Education councillor.

“We possess this link and should make the most of it because not all cities are lucky enough to have been the birthplace of one of the world’s best songs by one of the world’s best groups,” Cruz said.

Manuel Guzman, who heads the Diputacion’s Culture and Cinema department, agreed that John Lennon’s visit to Almeria was an added extra to the province’s culture and tourist attractions.

Lennon’s presence still reaches as far as Tabernas, Nijar, Mojacar and Carboneras, the places that he visited,” Guzman said.