Beatle's schooldays unearthed; Unseen photos of young Sir Paul to be auctioned.

Byline: VICKY ANDERSON

THE pupils of Joseph Williams Junior School could never have known that one among them would grow up to become one of the most famous entertainers in the wor ld.

To his Belle Vale schoolmates in 1953-if, later in life, they could recall his presence back in those days at all -he was James McCartney, a 10-yearold trumpet player studying for his 11 Plus exams.

This never before seen photo shows a young Paul McCartney at a classmate's 11th birthday party in Childwall. It is expected to fetch hundreds of pounds at auction later in the month.

"The woman who came in with this has no memory of Paul whatsoever, he was just a pupil at the school with her," said Stephen Bailey of the Beatles Shop on Mathew Street, which stages an annual sale as part of International Beatles Week events.

He says the seller only came into the shop to modestly inquire whether such a picture would be of interest to anybody, with no idea how exciting the find would be for hardcore fans.

Two birthday party pictures are expected to go for around pounds 500 each, while a class photo could fetch between pounds 1,200 and pounds 1,500.

Whoever snaps up the pictures will also be buying the copyright - and it is this exclusivity that makes these seldom-seen pictures so valuable.

Previously, a school photograph, signed by every pupil including McCartney (who was known by his first name of James at the time), sold for pounds 7,500 at Christies.

"Any previously unseen Beatles photos are always interesting, but this is one of Paul when he was a little kid," said Mr Bailey.

"The only ones you ever see come from their own family collection.

"I never thought I'd ever see anything like the ones at the party."

He adds: "It's the early items that are the unique, one-off collectables, from the beginning, before any fame. You wouldn't have remotely thought in 1953 that in 10 years' time these guys would be ruling the world musically."

This year, among the memorabilia up for auction is a pristine membership card to the Casbah Coffee Club, run by original Beatles drummer Pete Best's mother in the family home in West Derby - and considered to be where the story of The Beatles began.

The card is such a rarity that the experts at the Beatles Shop have hardly ever come across any before.

And LIPA is auctioning two customised bikes made for and used by McCartney and his late wife Linda in 1993.

Bidders from all over the world are expected to get involved.

Also among the 311 items in the catalogue is a collectors' Holy Grail - an envelope signed by all four of The Beatles, which is usually worth in the region of pounds 2,000.

They were collected by a local fan who bumped into the band in the street and asked for their autographs on the only thing that was to hand.

Mr Bailey said: "This is my 19th auction, and for things to still come along and surprise you like this after all that time - it's fantastic."

The Beatles auction takes place on Saturday, August 29 at the Paul McCartney auditorium at LIPA. * ARE you on this photograph, or do you remember your schooldays with Paul McCartney? Email [e-mail] with your stories.

* Get the latest Beatles news at www.liverpooldailypost.co.uk/beatles

CAPTION(S):

The envelope bearing the signatures of all four Beatles Paul McCartney, middle row far left, at a birthday party Stephen Bailey of the Beatles Shop on Mathew Street -which stages the annual sale -with the artefacts