As a member of (probably) the greatest musical group ever, The Beatles, John Lennon will be remembered by many as a world leader of peace.
Born John Winston Lennon on 9th October 1940, he lived just forty years before he was murdered on December 8th, 1980.
What we will never know is what his future held for him? Would he have treated us to another 20+ albums since 1980? Would he have reformed The Beatles with Paul, George (sadly, also gone now) and Ringo? Would have he continued his world peace movement and ended up President of The USA? Americans would have needed to have changed their rules, but would they?
His writing was prolific. Those lines in Imagine, Strawberry Fields, Julia – the list goes on and on – can move us to tears and drive us up the highest mountain.
His progress to world peace was well intentioned. Would he have been the one to finally end gun ownership, nuclear bombs and terrorist activity?
We do know that his wife, Yoko Ono Lennon, has maintained a dignified distance since his death while continuing to ensure we never forget John Lennon. If you’re ever in New York, a visit to his Strawberry Fields in Central Park is a visit with a camera you won’t ever forget. You’ll ‘show and tell’ everyone you know.
We’re still waiting for someone to make the real movie about his life. There have been attempts, but a Hard Days Night and Help appear much closer to the truth than some of the so called ‘factual’ movies.
His Last Will and Testament is also a good read as an insight in the life of the man. It’s available at the link that follows.
http://www.courttv.com/archive/legaldocs/newsmakers/wills/lennon.html
You will see that he inserted a clause, allowable in the US, but not in the UK. Clause number eight says that if anyone objects to their part in the will, then they are cut out entirely.
This wouldn’t be allowed in the UK because some ‘classes’ or ‘groups’ of people have specific rights in the financial settlement of a will. Children under eighteen, for example, cannot be forgotten or written out. You must provide something reasonable for your children (providing you are leaving some assets!). If you kept your spouse and they have no money or assets of their own, you must provide for them, again in a reasonable manner. In both these examples, these ‘classes’ of people could go to court to ask for more if they weren’t in the will, to receive a legacy, and a judge would make a decision, probably in their favour to some extent.
Live long, in our thoughts, John Lennon. You were there for us; now we’re there for you.
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