Alfred Lennon was an English seaman and singer. He was best known as the father of John Winston Lennon. Alfred’s son John was a singer, songwriter, musician, and peace activist. He was the founder, co-songwriter, co-lead vocalist, and rhythm guitarist of the Beatles. He was the husband of artist, singer-songwriter, and peace activist Yoko Ono.
Alfred Lennon: Bio Summary
| Name | Alfred Lennon |
| Famous as | father of John Lennon |
| Date of birth | 14 December 1912 |
| Place of birth | Liverpool, Lancashire, England. |
| Died | 1 April 1976 (aged 63) |
| Spouse | Julia Lennon, Pauline Jones |
| Children | David Henry Lennon, John Lennon, and Robin Francis Lennon |
| Parents | Jack Lennon and Mary Maguire |
| Siblings | George Lennon, Edith Lennon, Sydney Lennon, Herbert Lennon, Charles Lennon, Harold Lennon, Mary Elizabeth Lennon, and Michael Lennon |
Who Was John Lennon’s Father, Alfred Lennon?
Alfred Lennon was welcomed into the world on 14 December 1912, in Liverpool, Lancashire, England. John “Jack” Lennon and Mary “Polly” McGuire Lennon are the names of his parents. His paternal grandparents James Lennon and Jane McConville, moved with their respective families to Liverpool from County Down, Ireland in the 1840’s.
Alfred Lennon’s father Jack was one of seven children of his parents. His parents Jack and Polly lived together as husband and wife for years before they officially got married on 27 January 1915. His father was first married to Margaret Cowley, with whom he fathered two children, Mary Elizabeth Lennon and Michael Lennon.
Margaret died during childbirth. She died giving birth to Michael in 1892. Alfred Lennon is not the only child of his parents. His parents Jack and Polly had fifteen children but unfortunately, eight of them did not survive to adulthood. Following Jack’s death in 1921, Polly who was unable to provide for the family placed some of her kids in an orphanage home.
Alfred Lennon also called ‘Alf’ and his sister Edith Lennon were the children who were placed in the Blue Coat School Orphanage. Polly died on 30 January 1949. Alfred’s growth became stunted at 5′ 4″ due to rickets he suffered as a child. He wore leg braces. He was described as someone who was a happy-go-lucky, and “couldn’t resist having a good time”.
ALSO, READ: Julia Lennon: How Did John Lennon’s Mother Die?
While Alfred Lennon was still at the orphanage, he auditioned for a children’s music hall act, Will Murray’s Gang, at the Empire Theatre in Liverpool, in 1927. He passed the audition and decided to run away from the orphanage and join the show. He and the troupe travelled but he was found in Glasgow and returned to the orphanage, where he suffered severe punishment.
At age 15, Alfred left the Bluecoat orphanage and found a job. He was known as being always quick with a joke or a witty line, but he never held a job for any length of time. He did several jobs including working as an office boy, bellboy, steward, merchant seaman, kitchen porter, dishwasher, and singer. He met Julia Stanley for the first time at the Trocadero club but they didn’t speak to each other.
They later met again in Sefton Park. Alfred and Julia stayed in touch and eventually, the two got married after Julia proposed to Alfred. They got married on 3 December 1938, in the Bolton Street Register Office but Julia’s family didn’t attend the wedding, making Alfred’s brother Sydney act as a witness.
They enjoyed their honeymoon eating at Reece’s restaurant in Clayton Square and at a cinema. However, Alfred and Julia didn’t spend their wedding night together. As for Julia’s family, they were not happy about her marriage to Alfred. Her father said Alfred was “certainly not middle class”. Alfred and Julia had a son John Winston Lennon on 9 October 1940.
John was born in Liverpool, England. Alfred who was often not home first saw his son John in November when he returned from working as a merchant seaman on troop transports during World War II. Although Alfred sent regular pay cheques to Julia who lived with their son, he did not stay home with his family for long.
“I never knew my father,” Alfred’s son John said. “I saw him twice in my life till I was 22, when he turned up after I’d had a few hit records. I saw him and spoke to him, and decided I still didn’t want to know him.”
ALSO, READ: Robin Francis Lennon: Where Is John Lennon’s Brother?
The cheques stopped coming when Alfred went absent without leave. Julia became pregnant with another man’s child when Alfred was away. Alfred would later come home and offer to look after the family but Julia will rejected it. Julia’s sister Mimi complained to Liverpool’s Social Services twice, which led to Julia giving her custody of John Lennon.
Alfred Lennon had an estranged relationship with his son John Lennon. Alfred reunited with John after John became successful in his career as a musician. The father and son had reunited but that did not make them closer. Alfred married Pauline Jones and they had two sons David Henry Lennon, born on 26 February 1969, and Robin Francis Lennon, born on 22 October 1973.
Alfred and Pauline remained married until Alfred’s death. Alfred released a record as Freddie Lennon. He was known for “That’s My Life (My Love and My Home)“.
What Happened To John Lennon’s Father?
Alfred Lennon was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer. His wife Pauline Jones informed Alfred’s son John Lennon and made him aware that his father was dying. John sent a large bouquet to the hospital, where his father was admitted. He called Alfred who was on his deathbed on the phone and apologized for his [John’s] past behavior. Alfred died of stomach cancer on 1 April 1976, at age 63, in Brighton, Sussex, England.
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