My Story

Bill’s Beatles Collection is a display of over 60 years of collecting Beatles memorabilia.

My story started a few months before Feb 9 1964.

My mother worked for WHSmith (UK based books and records sales) in Montreal and would purchase the latest records for me and my sister. I was already listening to the music of the Beatles when their appearance on the Ed Sullivan show was announced.

Joining in the anticipation of millions of others I was glued to the TV set at 8 PM Sunday Feb 9 1964.  Life shifted and I was enthralled like so many others.

I saw them live on their first North American tour when they played the Montreal forum. I say “saw” because the noise of the screaming and cheering left my ears ringing for days.

I am a collector at heart and the Beatles have become my life long passion.

Like most teenagers at the time, I had records, magazines, buttons, bubble-gum cards and other memorabilia and of course the haircut. Their songs spoke to me then and continue to do that to this day.

I have had the privilege of meeting many from the Beatles “inner circle” including Louise Harrison, Julia Baird, Alistair Stairs, and Pete Best among others.