Yoko Ono dedicates airport to John Lennon

LIVERPOOL - She may have once been blamed by its citizens for breaking up the Fab Four but Liverpool and Yoko Ono finally made their peace yesterday as she renamed the city's airport after her late husband, John Lennon.

Unveiling a new logo featuring a famous cartoon self-portrait by the bespectacled Beatle, his widow said she wanted Liverpool John Lennon Airport to send a "big smile to all four corners of the world".

Yoko, who has maintained rigorous control over use of her husband's image and music since he was murdered outside their New York home in 1980, had flown to Merseyside to accept the honour.

The Japanese artist was greeted by around 150 Liverpudlians as she touched down at the airport at Speke, where the Beatles were given a rapturous welcome by fans upon their return from America in 1964.

Speaking as she unveiled the logo, which represents the first commercial use of the Lennon portrait, the 67-year-old star said: "I am delighted that Liverpool has decided to name the airport in his memory .

"John always reminded us of his sense of fun and I hope that John Lennon airport will send a big smile to all four corners of the world. Thank you for remembering and loving John."

The rebranded airport is the first in Britain to be named after an individual – putting Lennon in an elite global club including John F Kennedy (New York), Leonardo da Vinci (Rome) and Charles de Gaulle (Paris). Liverpool's new second terminal, which is due to open next autumn, will feature a 7ft 6in statue of Lennon as well as new logo and a slogan taken for his lyrics – "above us only sky".

Lawyers acting for Ono agreed to allow Speke's owners, Peel Holdings, use of the cartoon and slogan, taken from the Imagine album, without the fee that such a transaction would normally entail.

Ono, who flew in on a private jet before emerging in the terminal wearing a black suit and purple sunglasses, was once accused in the Beatles' home city of speeding the band's split in 1970.

Shortly after their marriage and the subsequent Beatles' break up, the couple moved to America to concentrate on their solo careers with some fans accusing Ono of unduly dominating her husband.

But according to Beatles fans in Liverpool yesterday, any such feelings have long since disappeared and are held by only the most dogmatic of followers of John, Paul, Ringo and George.

Jamie Ferguson, a manager at a Beatles memorabilia store in the city, said: "There are still one or two who grumble about Yoko splitting them up but I think most people recognise that wasn't the case.

"The band were going their own way by then anyway so it's great that she should be back and give her blessing to the airport. It is right that whatever ill feelings there once were are long forgotten."

A spokeswoman for the Beatle Story museum in Liverpool added: "No one is really interested any more in the old story of who broke them up. She will be very welcome in the city."

Ono, who also received an honorary doctorate from Liverpool University in recognition of financial support through a scholarship set up in 1991, appeared to go further in her vision of the airport than even its managers had proposed.

She said: "As (John) said, there is no hell below us, above us only sky… I can see so many possibilities already – the Strawberry Fields Café, a Give Peace A Chance Lounge."

Senior staff at the airport, which boasts of being Britain's fastest growing, diplomatically said that there were no formal plans for Lennon themed outlets but they would be considered.

Neil Pakey, commercial director of Peel Holdings, said: "John Lennon was held in great affection in his home city. We want to build on that tribute by continuing to grow the airport that bears his name."

- INDEPENDENT