Which Beatle had the most difficult childhood?
Though John Lennon has described a very difficult childhood in emotional terms, he was more materially affluent than the others. Ringo, in contrast, has frequently paid tribute to his mother (Elsie) and his stepfather (Harry) for creating a very happy home. He nonetheless experienced 'Dickensian misfortune' that made the others count their blessings. Dingle The young Richard Starkey never made it to Mendips at this time - he first met the other Beatles much later in Hamburg. Had he done so, Aunt Mimi would no doubt have 'hidden the spoons', such was the notorious reputation of 'the Dingle', the area he came from. Mimi would also have been startled by the young Starkey's physical appearance, which showed clear signs of his impoverishment and severe ill-health Growing up in one of the roughest areas of the city meant that Ringo quickly developed survival skills. 'You learned to keep your eyes down but still watch what was going on,' he would late...
