Lennon's MBE unearthed

Fans of John Lennon are calling for his MBE to put on display, forty years after he famously sent it back to the Queen.

The rock legend returned the honour in 1969, in protest at the government's supposed support of the war in Vietnam.

All four members of the band had been rewarded four years earlier for their services to music, at the height of Beatlemania.

It has now been unearthed in its original presentation case with letter, at the Chancery Department of the Royal Household in St James' Palace.

The attached note reads: "Your Majesty, I am returning my MBE as a protest against Britain's involvement in the Nigeria-Biafra thing, against our support of America in Vietnam and against 'Cold Turkey' slipping down the charts. With Love, John Lennon."



A spokesman for Buckingham Palace told a UK newspaper that the honour could go on display only when it has been officially verified.

"John Lennon's MBE is being taken good care of and is in storage at the Central Chancery, St James' Palace", they explained.

"It has been retained since the day Mr Lennon returned it, but in order to decide whether the medal could go on display in a museum, we would have to establish ownership first.

"It could be up to Yoko Ono as she is the custodian of John Lennon's estate", the spokesperson concluded.

Beatles monument revealed

A Beatles monument is to be constructed in Germany, in memory of their emergence almost 50 years ago, it has been announced.

A radio station in Hamburg has announced plans for the sculpture, in the town where The Fab Four first made their name in the early '60s.

Local radio station Oldie 95 confirmed news of the monument, which will be made of steel and cost $625,000.

It will be built on a corner of the St. Pauli district near the clubs where The Beatles honed their trade during 1962.

Paul McCartney, John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and early Beatle Stuart Sutcliffe , who died in Hamburg in 1962, will all feature in the sculpture.