Tittenhurst Park: News: John Lennon gives back his MBE

Tittenhurst Park

This Tittenhurst Park blog is dedicated to John Lennon's home in Sunningdale, near Ascot, Berkshire between 1969 and 1971. The aim is to gather as much material relating to the estate as possible - obviously with the emphasis on the Lennon-era, but also concerning Tittenhurst Park as it was before and after John Lennon's ownership. In addition, there will be posts about and associated with the Beatles, plus any other rubbish I feel like. The blog is purely meant for the entertainment of anyone (assuming there is actually anyone) who, like me, has an unhealthy interest in one particular Georgian mansion. Those with anything interesting to contribute in the way of links, photos, scans, stories etc. please do contact me: tittenhurstlennon@gmail.com
(Legal: this blog is strictly non-commercial. All material is the property of the photographer/artist/copyright holder concerned. Any such who wishes a picture etc to be removed should contact me and I will do so. Alternatively, if someone is happy to see their photo on here, but would like a credit/link then let me know and I'll be happy to provide one).
Enjoy!

Sunday

News: John Lennon gives back his MBE

BBC News 25th November 1969
Transmitted by: BBC1 B&W

"BEATLE JOHN LENNON TELLS WHY HE GAVE BACK HIS MBE"

John had returned his MBE medal which had been presented to him and his fellow Beatles by Queen Elizabeth II four years earlier. He did so in protest against Britain's support for federal Nigeria in the Civil war and Britain's support for the US in Vietnam.
John, wearing his hair in a ponytail, explained his action to the news cameras:- "...As a protest against violence and war, especially Britain's involvement in Biafra, which most of the British public are not aware of .....'cause all the press, TV and radio's slant all the news from Biafra. All the stuff I learnt on Biafra from journalists off the cuff, folks, is a different story and I began to be ashamed of being British - and I'm a patriotic nationalist if the truth were out, and Yoko can vouch for that. I'm always fighting about what Britain invented - Radar and what, all the different things we've done. But every day I just began to worry a bit more about it and I was gonna send the MBE back anyway. I could have done it privately, but the press would have found out anyway - you would have been here a week later instead..."

Tittenhurst Park