Bob Wooler
A compère, stage manager and promoter, born in Liverpool on 19 January 1932. Immediately following his National Service, he began work as a clerk in a local railway dock office in 1952 and was based in the Garston area of Liverpool. In 1957 Bob initially became involved in the music scene when he managed a skiffle group called Kingstrums. They hailed from a tough area of Garston, nicknamed "under the bridge". Bob recalls entering the group in a skiffle contest at Gateacre Labour Club. The contest was won by The Mars Bars, who later evolved into Gerry and the Pacemakers. He says: "At the Labour club I remember the Kingstrums coming into direct competition with John Lennon's skiffle group The Quarry Men. Because they came from posh places like Woolton and Aigburth, the Quarry Men were considered to be snobs !

When the Kingstrums disbanded, Bob began compèring shows locally for promoters such as Wally Hill of Peak Promotions, at venues such as Holyoake Hall in Smithdown Road. He also co-promoted dances at Hambleton Hall, Huyton with Vic Anton. Bob became one of the major figures on the Mersey Scene and did much to help the various groups, and the Beatles in particular. He had a mellifluous voice, great wit and an extensive knowledge of the local scene. Bob was Liverpool's equivalent of Sam Goldwyn when it came to coining phrases which became established among the music fraternity - they were referred to as "Woolerisms". He called the Cavern "The best of the cellars", Brian Epstien was referred to as "The Nemperor".

He contributed a column to Mersey Beat, "The Roving I", in which readers would delight at his colourful, alliterative style of writing in which he described the Beatles as "rhythmic revolutionaries" and shady agents as "those characters from consville". Bob was particularly knowledgeable about the music the young Merseysiders wanted to hear and his record collection inspired a number of bands in their choice of repertoire. He also advised bands on their stage presentation and was probably the most efficient organizer of shows on Merseyside.

Inspired by the Top ten Club in Hamburg, Allan Williams opened a rock n' roll club called the Top Ten at 100 Soho Street, Liverpool, in November 1960. Allan had talked the 28 year old Wooler into giving up his job as a railway clerk to work as a full time disc jockey / compère at the new venue. At 11.30pm on Tuesday 6 December, only eight days after it opened, the venue burned down, Bob found himself out on a limb without a job. He still had compère work to do for promoters such as Brian Kelly and he talked Kelly into booking the Beatles at Litherland Town Hall, the gig that brought them to the attention of the Liverpool fans for the first time. When Ray McFall started to book local bands at the Cavern he employed Bob to become the Caverns full time compère. Bob's familiar "Hello Cavern dwellers, welcome to the best of cellars", was his trademark and it was bob who began to organize lunch time sessions. He recommended that Ray booked the Beatles during the lunch time gigs as they didn't have any daytime jobs and would be readily available. The group made their first lunchtime appearance on Tuesday 21 February 1961 and they continued to play there regularly until Saturday 3 August 1963. Bob reckoned that the total number of occasions he introduced the Beatles on stage at the Cavern was 274, but also believed that, counting all the other Mersey venues, the number of times he compèred their shows was nearer 400, an achievement which ensures his place in Beatlelore.
While Wooler was introducing them on stage at the Cavern once, John Lennon told the audience that he was his long lost father who he had not seen for 15 years, and the audience believed him!

When Brian Epstein arranged for the Beatles to meet him and Alistair Taylor at his NEMS offices to discuss his management proposals, they asked Bob to join them and to give his opinion. The date was Wednesday 3 December 1961 and Bob and the Beatles initially went to the Bridge pub for drinks to discuss strategy. They arrived late, which irked Epstein - particularly since Paul wasn't with them. Paul arrived half and hour late. When Epstein wanted to know who Bob was, Lennon said, "This is me dad". Bob was indeed a father figure for many groups and his knowledge and advice proved invaluable to Epstein. A few days after the meeting between the Beatles and Brian Epstein, Wooler was able to reveal to Epstein that the group were indeed on the lookout for a manager.

Although Bob was a champion of the Beatles, he is perhaps unfairly more known because of an incident which took place at Paul McCartney's 21st Birthday party on 18 June 1963. Bob made a remark to John which resulted in John giving him a beating. Lennon and Epstein had just returned from a weekend in Spain and Wooler made a remark hinting at a homosexual relationship. John was to tell Cynthia "He called me a bloody queer so I bashed his ribs in". Bob had to be taken to hospital and Epstein immediately set out to repair the damage, ordering his solicitor Rex Makin to pay Bob £200.00 in damages. John refused to apologize, so Brian sent him a telegram in Johns name: "Really sorry Bob. Terribly sorry to realise what I had done. What more can I say?"

Bob remained at the Cavern until 1967. He compèred a radio show from the club and also managed a few local groups. He was married to Brian Epstein's secretary Beryl Adams. At that particular time the Marine Offences Bill had put paid to the pirate radio stations and the BBC was in the process of setting up Radio 1. Bob had an appointment with the head of Radio 1 with the opportunity of becoming a regular disc jockey at the radio station. Bob travelled to London, but failed to turn up for his appointment.

It seemed he wanted to remain in Liverpool. His marriage ended and he became a bingo caller. In succeeding years he continued to promote local events with Allan Williams, appeared regularly at the Liverpool based Beatle conventions and often escorted visitors on special Beatle tours.

Bob Wooler will always be remembered as the DJ who first introduced The Beatles to the World - Gone but not forgotten.

Extract from The Encyclopedia of Beatles People by Bill Harry, Blandford Publications - available in our store

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