McCartney's prize essay written at age 10 found in library

Published on Sunday 27 September 2009 23:13

A PRIZE-WINNING essay by a ten-year-old Paul McCartney sheds new light on the thoughts of a budding superstar, an author has claimed.

The handwritten piece about the Queen's coronation was found by Kevin Roach as he researched for a book on the Beatles legend. It had been stored for over 50 years in Liverpool Central Library's record office.

Mr Roach said: "It's unique in its own right. It shows his handwriting at that age and shows how Paul was thinking at the time. His handwriting is well advanced – you would say it was written by someone who was older than ten years old, more like 14 or 15."

Although the researcher said he is not concerned about its value, he likened the essay to John Lennon's christening bracelet, which was the last piece of Beatles memorabilia to be sold in a private auction. It fetched 27,000.

McCartney was marked down for his grammar in the project, using the word "But" at the start of a sentence.

Mr Roach believes the decorative "B" hints towards the musician's future. "The interesting thing is that it is the same 'B' as on the early Beatles drum-kit logo in 1961 and 1962."

The ten-year-oldentered a city council essay competition in 1953. He wrote about the "lovely young Queen" Elizabeth's coronation, the gathered crowds and the parade through London.

The schoolboy compares the happy scenes expected outside Buckingham Palace to the coronation of William the Conqueror nine centuries earlier.

He also declares Britain's "present day royalty rules with affection rather than force". Little did he know that in 1997 he would be knighted by the same queen.