Dingwall Town House

Image: © kim traynor Taken: 4 Sep 2013

The stone tower of the old tolbooth dates from 1733. One of the building's claims to fame is that it was the venue for a performance by the Liverpool pop group 'The Beatles' in 1963. After hearing a sample of the 'Merseybeat', some of the audience left, preferring to join a crowd of 1,200 watching a local rock group 'The Melotones' performing in Strathpeffer, four miles down the road. Weeks after the event, the Beatles' single 'Please, Please Me' topped the British charts and they swiftly went on to become the most popular pop band in the world. A reunion of the original band of 19 faithful audience members who stayed behind that evening was held in 2011. "I remember The Beatles were late in arriving and when they came on stage one by one they were wearing three-quarter-length leather jackets, long scarves - one was trailing his on the ground behind him - and winkle pickers. Everyone was laughing at them. But they were brilliant and they chatted with the audience between songs." -- Olive Lees, Dingwall resident, aged 64, speaking in 2011

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