Heritage plaque honours Paul McCartney's 'Mr Fixit' at The Brindley in Runcorn

Alistair Taylor, born on Curzon Street in 1935, remembered with blue plaque at award-winning borough arts venue

A music mogul’s assistant from Runcorn nicknamed ‘Mr Fixit’ by Paul McCartney has been honoured with a blue heritage plaque at The Brindley theatre.

Alistair Taylor charmed Brian Epstein in a job interview and joined him on his musical adventures and was with him when he first saw The Beatles perform before signing them.

A biography on the blue plaque revealed that James Alistair Taylor was born on Curzon Street in 1935 and completed his National Service with the RAF before meeting Epstein in 1960.

Alistair also worked with acts including Cream, James Taylor, Cilla Black and The Bee Gees.

The blue plaques of Runcorn heritage crusader Stuart Allen, who with help from Runcorn And District Historical Society, has fixed a trail of the mementoes around the town to honour its characters and buildings of note.

Stuart said: “Alistair was instrumental in the rise and rise of The Beatles.

“He was greatly respected and much loved in the music business by both the artists he worked with and by fans.

“Together with writer Hall Caine and pianist Martin Roscoe, he is one of the most important figures connected with the Arts that Runcorn has produced.”

Pete Bentham, musician and Brindley spokesman, said: “He’s quite a well-known figure so it’s great that a such a creative person is remembered at Halton’s centre for arts and entertainment The Brindley.”

Stu thanked the following contributors who helped the Alistair Taylor plaque come about: “David Sterry, Peter Blackmore, Richard Andrews and Alex Cowan from Runcorn And District Historical Society; Su Bullen from Halton Borough Council; Maurice Littlemore from the Runcorn Family History Society; special thanks to George Gunby who wrote the definitive biography of Alistair Taylor – Hello Goodbye: The Story of Mr Fixit, as well as being Alistair’s close friend; Tim Booth, manager of The Brindley theatre for letting us hang the plaque on the wall; Paul Matthews from the Grammar Monster.com forum, Barrie Davidson for hanging the plaque.”