John Lennon's Welsh Sketch

This sketch entitled His Beerness Keith (A Welsh) was drawn by an 17 year-old (ish) John Lennon in 1957. At the time Lennon was living with his aunt Mimi at 251 Menlove Avenue, Liverpool. Lennon’s aunt used to take in lodgers, one of whom was Keith Capron, a veterinary student from Wales who was studying at Liverpool University. He is the beer-bellied subject of Lennon's drawing. Capron would spend three years lodging with the family with whom he became very friendly. Lennon was an art student at the time but was also in the process of becoming a musician. John, Paul, George and Pete Best used to practice at the house. Although he got on well with Lennon, Capron wasn’t especially fond of the incipient Beatles: “I used to shout at them to stop playing while I was trying to work,” he said. The house is now owned by the National Trust and Keith Capron’s recollections form part of the audio commentary for visitors. After gaining his degree Capron returned to Wales and set up a veterinary practice in Pontypridd.