Sir Paul McCartney arrived at Liverpool Experience Campus on Tuesday, July 21, for the LIPA graduation ceremony, where five leading figures from the creative arts industry were made LIPA Companions.
More than a dozen fans gathered at the back entrance of the venue as Sir Paul waved from his car and played air guitar for the crowd. Brian Jackson, 65, from Allerton, has attended the ceremony for 28 years to see the music legend. He said: "I've been a fan of him since I was five and every time you see him back in Liverpool you can see the love he has for the city and the people. It's nice to come down to show him how much we support him and it's like a pilgrimage for all of us fans."
Jackson added that fans travel from around the world, including America and Japan, to share their stories. Michelle Murtagh, from Dublin, and David Shaw, from Nantwich, met through the Beatles-themed podcast 'Nothing Is Real' and were waiting for the third year running. Shaw said: "It's the most excited I ever get and I always get such a rush of energy when I see him. He's everything you expect him to be and he has such an incredible gift for song writing and melody. He can do it all."
Fan devotion and a special honour
Miles Frizzell, 22, originally from Nashville, moved to Liverpool in November to join The Bootleg Beatles as Sir Paul McCartney. He said: "I've been a huge fan of The Beatles since I was 12, especially Paul. I'm actually right handed but I taught myself to play guitar with my left hand when I was younger because I love him so much." Frizzell added that Sir Paul looked at him and waved, calling it "so cool."
Brian Lewis, 65, from Manchester, has travelled to see Sir Paul "on and off" since 2011. He said: "I've seen him 16 times now and there's a buzz that comes over you when you see him. I couldn't sleep properly last night and I kept waking up just thinking about what today was going to be like."
Stephen Graham, 52, from Kirkby, was among five figures awarded a LIPA Companionship by Sir Paul McCartney. The award recognises outstanding achievement in creative industries and contribution to student learning. Graham, known for roles in This Is England, Boardwalk Empire, Line of Duty, Boiling Point, and Adolescence, has earned BAFTA, Primetime Emmy, and Golden Globe awards and nominations.
Other honorees included BAFTA-winning actor and writer Cathy Tyson, Paul Duhaney (Artistic Director of Africa Oyé), McFly founding member Tom Fletcher (who composed for Paddington: The Musical), and film producer Lynette Howell Taylor, president of the Oscars. The ceremony celebrated more than 400 graduates from 28 countries, including Colombia, Georgia, India, Mexico, Peru, and Venezuela.
