Beatle fan makes it his personal crusade to restore gravesite of ex-Beatle Sutcliffe

July 2, 8:14 AMBeatles ExaminerSteve Marinucci

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    The Indra Club in Hamburg, Germany,  where the Beatles,
     with Stu Sutcliffe, played before they became famous.
     (Photo by Raymond Arritt/Wikimedia Commons)
 

The gravesite of one-time Beatle Stu Sutcliffe has been restored after years of neglect, thanks to a longtime Beatles fan.

Colin Unwin used his own money to clean up the headstone and repaint its gold lettering, reports the Liverpool Echo and the Manchester Evening News.

“After the sad tale of Strawberry Field, I wanted to tidy up Stuart’s grave. He was the forgotten Beatle and contributed so much to the band in its founder years," Unwin told the Echo. 

“Before there was John and Paul there was John and Stuart, and it broke my heart to see his grave so neglected and at a 45-degree angle.”

The 62-year-old Unwin said he paid £50 to have the refurbishing job on the headstone done.

"If it had been £300, I still would have paid it," he told the Manchester Evening News.

“Fourteen years ago, during a visit to Strawberry Field, I picked a flower and planted it in my garden. I have now transferred this purple flower and planted it next to Stuart’s grave for the many fans who visit his grave to appreciate,” he told the Echo.

Somewhere, Stuart Sutcliffe is smiling.