JOHN LENNON will be remembered with a major festival to be held in a remote Highland village. Some of Britain’s greatest artists will travel to the tiny village of Durness to pay homage to the former Beatle in the John Lennon Northern Lights Festival which will be held between September 28 and 30. The announcement has been timed ahead of next month’s 50th anniversary of Lennon’s first public appearance and the 40th anniversary of iconic Beatles’ album Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band. The festival will be attended by several members of the ex-Beatle’s family, including his sister Julia Baird. In a unique event, members of the public will be able to ask Ms Baird and her relatives about their times with John. Ms Baird said: “John really loved Durness and would be pleased his influence was being celebrated with this festival. “I am delighted to be involved in what is a high- quality event which has taste and respect at its core. We are all looking forward very much to coming again to a place that meant so much to my brother.” Durness was an area that greatly inspired Lennon – between the ages of nine and 13 he spent his holidays there and returned in 1969 with his son Julian, wife Yoko Ono, and her daughter Kyoko. Shortly before his death in 1980, Lennon even asked relatives to try to buy the village, which is said to be part of the inspiration for Beatles song In My Life. John’s oldest surviving relative, Stan Parkes, said: “John would be both delighted and surprised that he had inspired such a great festival in a part of the world he loved. “Few places meant more to John than Durness. It was often when he was at his happiest.” Liverpool playwright Alan Bleasdale will feature at the festival, making just his fourth public appearance in 15 years. Tickets for the festival, which is being promoted by North Highland Tourism, are available at www.northhighlandsscotland.com/festival paulaowens@dailypost.co.uk | 
