Beatles’ unseen pics to go under the hammer

London -  Unseen photographs of the Beatles are to go up for sale after lying in a family album for almost half a century.

The 20 black-and-white images give a rare-behind-the-scenes glimpse of the band as they made their first movie, ‘A Hard Day’s Night’, in March 1964 at the Scala Theatre in London.

They show the band with their instruments but also between takes in off-guarded moments, with one picture of Ringo Starr resting on bricks to boost his height for the cameras.

Taking pictures on the closed set was banned, but Pinewood Studios props manager Peter Allchorne had no problems clicking the fabulous four.

The photos were then put in his family album where they have stayed until now.
 
The 87-year-old from Preston, Lancashire is putting his pictures up for sale at Omega Auctions in Stockport, Cheshire on 19 May.

Allchorne’s daughter Jacqueline Griffin said her father was largely unaware of the growing fuss surrounding the Beatles and thought of them as just another band he had got to know through his work.

“It was not unusual for him to be on set and taking pictures. He wanted to take pictures of one of the crew, a mate Alfie, and they were there, it was when the Beatles were on stage,” the BBC quoted her as saying.

“He got to know them quite well but he was just not that interested. I think they just larked about and had a good time. He was not particularly star-struck, they were just four lads in a band, it didn’t really hit him.

“He’s never held any value on them because he was not into the Beatles, he was just working on the films. He doesn’t have any sentimental attachment. They’re just dad’s pictures. He didn’t like the music, he was into jazz,” she said.

A menu card - signed by the four Beatles - from the band’s trip aboard the BOAC Cunard, London to New York flight, will also go under the hammer at the sale.

Allchorne’s photos of the Beatles on their Bahamas trip have been lost forever because his camera was stolen from the beach.

The remaining photos taken in London, along with the original negatives, have been given an estimate of 2,000 pounds. The entire lot has an estimate of 10,000 pounds.