A new mural celebrating Lord Woodbine, an influential figure in Liverpool’s music history and an early mentor to The Beatles, is set to be unveiled in Toxteth later this month.

The artwork, created by renowned Liverpool mural artist John Culshaw, will honour the life and legacy of Harold Adolphus Phillips, better known as Lord Woodbine, whose contribution to the city’s music scene helped shape its cultural identity.

Commissioned by local charity Mandela8, the mural forms part of an ongoing project to celebrate inspirational figures and unsung heroes from Liverpool’s Black communities.

Born in Trinidad, Lord Woodbine arrived in England in 1948 after serving in the RAF. As a member of the Windrush generation, he went on to become a prominent figure in Liverpool’s Caribbean community, introducing audiences to calypso and steelpan music.

He led groups including Lord Woodbine and his Trinidadians and the All-Caribbean Steel Band, helping to establish a vibrant Caribbean music scene in the city.

His influence also extended to one of the world’s most famous bands.

Working alongside Liverpool club owner Allan Williams, Lord Woodbine helped promote The Beatles during their early years and famously drove the young musicians to Hamburg in 1960, where he also performed alongside them.

His involvement earned him the nickname the ‘forgotten sixth Beatle’, although he never sought to capitalise on his association with the group.

Lord Woodbine later died alongside his wife Helen in a house fire at their Toxteth home.

The new mural aims to ensure his remarkable story, and the wider contribution of Liverpool 8’s musicians, is recognised by future generations.

Carol Phillips, Lord Woodbine’s daughter, said:

“The mural is for the whole family of Liverpool 8, not just our family, and we hope it will be a catalyst for the celebration and visibility of the Liverpool 8 music scene and the contributions musicians like my Dad made.

“Many of them played a prominent role in the growth of Liverpool’s music scene and on the international stage, yet some of their stories and contributions have remained unsung. It is important that we now recognise, celebrate and make visible the part they played in Liverpool’s musical history.”

The project is the fifth mural commissioned by Mandela8, following previous tributes to Liverpool FC’s first Black player Howard Gayle, photographer Leroy Cooper, swimming pioneer James Clarke and Nelson Mandela.

The charity hopes the artworks will help transform local neighbourhoods while highlighting the achievements of people whose contributions have often been overlooked.

Sonia Bassey MBE, Chair of Mandela8, said:

“This mural has been 18 months in development, so to finally see Lord Woodbine take his rightful place in the landscape of our city is incredibly significant.

“Woodbine, and many others from Liverpool 8, played a significant role in shaping the music scene in Liverpool and beyond, yet their contribution remains largely invisible in the story the city tells about its musical heritage.

“Our role is to help change that, to ensure our community heroes are seen, their stories are told and their contribution is recognised for generations to come.”

Sonia also thanked Lord Woodbine’s family and the organisations supporting the project, including Liverpool City Region Combined Authority Mayor’s Fund, Liverpool BID Company, Northern Roots, Riverside Group and The Accommodation Project.

Sarah Wall, Head of Communities & Livelihoods at Riverside, welcomed the tribute and said she hoped it would inspire younger generations to take pride in their community.

“We are thrilled to see this mural unveiled and delighted to be supporting Mandela8 once again as they bring another important project to life.

“It is fantastic to see the life and legacy of Lord Woodbine recognised in this way. We hope the mural will inspire a new generation of Toxteth residents and Liverpudlians to take pride in their community and celebrate Liverpool’s rich cultural heritage.”

For Mandela8 ambassador Stephen Nze, the project carries particular personal significance, having known Lord Woodbine during his childhood.

He said:

“As a child, I knew him simply as ‘Woody’ or ‘Mr Woodbine’. It was only as I grew older that I began to discover the remarkable accomplishments, talents and contribution of this great man.

“For me, there has always been a deep sense that too much of his story — and the wider contribution of Black people to Liverpool — was overlooked, forgotten or written out of our history.”

Stephen described the mural as an opportunity to reclaim an important part of Liverpool’s shared history and ensure the achievements of its Black communities are remembered.

Artist John Culshaw, whose work can be seen across Liverpool, said researching Lord Woodbine’s life had given him a greater appreciation of his musical influence.

“I’m so happy to be part of this project. Doing my research for this project, I got to learn about Harold and the pivotal role he played in the Liverpool music scene.

“Not just in the early days of the young Beatles, but introducing calypso and an exotic flavour to the scene, that future musicians could learn from and influence their own music.”

The mural will be officially unveiled on Monday 19 October 2026 at 2pm, with guest speakers attending the ceremony.

It will be located on Hillaby Close, L8 8LY, just off Upper Warwick Street in Toxteth.

For more information about Mandela8 and its community mural projects, visit the website.