Cliff Cooper, CEO and founder of Orange Amplification helped bury a time capsule to mark the start of the site construction at Strawberry Field.
Orange Amplification is supporting the Salvation Army which owns Strawberry Field, to open the world-famous red gates to the public for the first time ever in the summer of 2019. Visitors will be able to walk through the landscaped grounds where John Lennon played as a boy and find out more about his childhood connections with Strawberry Field. The visitor attraction will sit alongside ‘Steps to Work’, a vocational training and work placement hub for young people with learning difficulties.
Cooper was made an Honorary Patron along with Lady Judy Martin OBE (wife of the late Sir George Martin) and Julia Baird (John Lennon’s half-sister) as Honorary President.
The time capsule placed in the ground marks fifty one years since the original release of the 1967 classic Beatles song, Strawberry Field’s Forever. The roll call of “diggers” included Major Roger Batt of The Salvation Army, Julia Baird, Lady Judy Martin OBE, Cliff Cooper and young adults amongst the first trainees to pass through the Steps to Work placement hub.
“I am delighted the plans to reopen Strawberry Field are now moving forward at a fast pace,” said Cliff Cooper, “I am proud Orange has been able to support such a worthy cause and I would like to encourage others to help with donations.”
Donations can be made by going to https://orangeamps.com/strawberry-field/. All donations of £6 or more will be sent a limited edition picture postcard of the Strawberry Field gates with a signed printed signature of Lady Martin and Cliff Cooper as a special thank you. All donors will also be entered into a free prize draw to win one of two 50th anniversary Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band CDs signed by Giles Martin, who digitally re-mastered the album.
