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Click Liverpool. The identity of the signature in the textbook is thought to be that of the person generally recognised as the inspiration for the Beatles song. She was born Eleanor Rigby Whitfield in Woolton, Liverpool, very close to where Paul McCartney lived as a child. She married railway foreman Thomas Woods at 35 and became Eleanor Rigby Woods. Though the textbook could fetch a huge sum at auction, Click Liverpool reports the owner, who found the book after moving into Rigby's old home, isn't ready to sell it and has it in a bank vault for safekeeping.
"When I moved into the house, in 2003, my next-door neighbour told me that Eleanor Rigby used to live here. I thought he was joking and I often tell my friends the same thing but didn't really believe it was true until I saw the signature on Eleanor's marriage certificate. It came to light a couple of years ago when I was clearing out the junk from the old out-house in the back garden. I discovered the book on the ground amongst the mess and rubble. It is an old and worn geography book with the name "Eleanor R. Whitfield" signed on the first page. Inside the back cover there is the signature of Eleanor Rigby Whitfield and also Hannah Whitfield," the woman, Alice Bennett, says.
Hannah Whitfield was Eleanor's younger half-sister who also attended Woolton High School.
"When I found it the thought crossed my mind that it could have belonged to Eleanor Rigby, but seeing the surname Whitfield I was not sure. I decided to keep the book safe rather than toss it away. So I filed carefully and I have only told a few of my friends about it up until now.
"I'm a huge Beatles fan, and I adore the lyrics to "All the Lonely People." It's really wonderful to know that I have this unique piece of 'Eleanor Rigby' memorabilia. It's a little piece of history and I am not sure how much it might be worth but I don't want to sell it in any case. But after reading that Eleanor Rigby's signature is due to be sold for £500,000 getting this book valued and insured is a must. The thought of hoards of tourists and Beatles fans knocking on my door is nerve-wracking, I don't really want any publicity, but I'm very excited."
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