He loves you, yeah, yeah, yeah!

By Marc McGowan
BEATLEMANIA was prevalent in the Swinging Sixties and the Psychedelic Seventies, but the Fab Four still entrance Pakenham’s Darren English.
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr inspired and entertained billions of fans worldwide, and a hallmark of their popularity is the group’s legacy.
“Through all stages of my life there has been something there (in the Beatles’ music) that’s held some relevance to me,” Mr English said.
“Paul McCartney released a greatest (hits) album and I still appreciated where he’s coming from musically and his perspective on where his life is at.”
Being able to relate so easily to them has led to him developing an astonishing monument to the Beatles, including 17 copies of The White Album, various Yellow Submarine memorabilia, over 700 hours worth of unreleased material, figurines, clothing and posters.
And that is not to mention Mr English’s ownership of every one of the Beatles’ 14 albums – numerous times over.
“Anyone with 17 copies of the same album has something wrong with them,” he laughed.
“When they were originally released, they came with a number on them.”
It is a wellknown saying that the value of an item comes down to what someone is willing pay for it. In following that theme, Mr English’s wife, Isla, scored her husband’s most prized Beatles possession for a bargain at the Pakenham Opportunity Shop.
It was yet another ‘White Album’, but with a twist – instead of a number it has ‘A Display’ printed on the front of it.
“This means it is an original promotional copy from 1968. The numbers do not come any lower than this,” he said.
“My wife purchased it for me for 50 cents. Like my wonderful wife, this item is unique.”
Mr English has also dedicated a website to the cult Beatles cartoons.
“The cartoons hadn’t been shown since the mid80s and by the mid90s, I had a hankering to see them again,” he said.
Mr English’s effort in putting together synopses of each episode and a background of the history of the cartoons was rewarded with it being used in the sixDVD set that eventually came out.
He admits he is fanatical towards the famous foursome, but makes a good point in summing up his hobby.
“It is a little bit obsessive, but at least it doesn’t require me to run around a golf course!” Mr English said.