Death of John Lennon's cousin and close friend, Stan Parkes, 82 of Largs
The cousin of John Lennon, who had a close bond with the man considered to be one of the greatest musicians of all time, has died at the age of 82.
Largs has held the surprise connection with The Beatles going back to the early 1990s when Stan Parkes moved to Waterside Street, and gave talks to local groups including the Round Table and Rotary, about his famous cousin.
Stan was also in demand from national media, book authors, and fan groups from around the world, for his insight into the life of one of the greatest musical icons of all time. Stan was with John through the musical revolution of Beatlemania which has had such a lasting impact on popular music culture, and sat in on the recording sessions of the ‘Fab Four’, and his voice can even be heard in the background of some of the famous tracks.
Around 1994, Stan moved to Waterside Street, with his Largs born wife Jan, and stayed there for the rest of his days. John and Stan grew up in Liverpool, the sons of two sisters from a family where the women were very much in charge. Stan, who was seven years older, took young John under his wing, and they would often go out to the park, or the cinema together. As a younger man, Stan was sent to boarding school in Scotland, and lived in Edinburgh after his father died.
Stan's mother re-married a dentist in the capital, and lived in a house, overlooking Murrayfield, and the young Lennon was a regular visitor.
Source: Largs and Millport Weekly News
