11 June 2023 , 18:14
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Ringo Starr was damned with faint praise in a school report that described him as ‘quite capable of making a satisfactory employee’.
The underwhelming endorsement of a boy who would go on to global stardom is included in a collection of Beatles memorabilia now being sold.
AE Virr, headmaster of Livepool’s Dingle Vale Secondary School, also wrote: “During his stay at this school he has made some progress at his work... his conduct and personal appearance have been satisfactory.”
But stony-faced Virr did praise Ringo’s art.
He described it as “quite good”.
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Other papers in the lot reveal drummer Ringo, 82, then plain old Richard Starkey, once scored 85 on an IQ test.
A young Ringo was written off in his school report (Popperfoto via Getty Images)And punishment books from the school show he was once in trouble for “misbehaving during PT games”.
Ringo visited the school, now Shorefields Technology College, in 2008 and said: “I said to my driver if he dropped me off anywhere there I would never find my way home.
“So much has changed.” Also up for auction until June 18 is a portrait of John Lennon by “fifth Beatle” Stuart Sutcliffe. The picture by Sutcliffe, who left the band in 1961 and died in 1962, is expected to fetch £10,000-£20,000.
Beatles fans can also bid on a first pressing of Love Me Do, released in 1962. The band’s signatures are on the back of the single in blue ballpoint pen, and a £12,000 reserve has been set with Tracks Auction.