Merseybeat icon Len Garry has passed away aged 84. The Quarrymen musician, who performed with John Lennon and Paul McCartney in the group that would eventually become the Beatles, had recently been diagnosed with pneumonia after hospital admission for a suspected chest infection at the Royal Liverpool Hospital. His daughter Jane Garry announced the musician's passing in a statement this morning. Sharing the news, she said: "My Dad 'Len Garry' passed away at home in the early hours this morning.

"The doctor told us he had hours to live, and I said straight away, 'he has to come home,' which the doctor allowed. I travelled with dad in the ambulance and got him home. My mum, my sister, my brother in law and myself stayed by Dad's bed holding his hand, talking to him and telling him how much we love him and how proud we are of him as he was passing away and taking his last breathes. I love you Dad and I will miss you Dad for the rest of my life. I'm beyond devastated.", reports the Liverpool Echo.

Len was a pupil at Liverpool Institute High School for Boys, where he met Paul McCartney through schoolmate Ivan Vaughan. He became a member of the Quarrymen soon after the band's formation, joining the first settled line-up which featured Lennon, McCartney, Colin Hanton, Rod Davis, Pete Shotton and Eric Griffiths.

Tributes to the guitarist and vocalist, who hailed from Wavertree, have poured in. One person said: "So sorry to hear this. what a life he had. Part of one of greatest stories ever told. A beautiful family and so much love. His name will be spoken and his stories told for many lifetimes to come."

Another said: "I'm so sorry to hear this news. We will all feel the loss of Len as he has a huge place in 'the story' but for you and your family it's totally different, I feel for you all and I'm so sorry."

A further admirer added: "God bless him and he is now free from pain and discomfort. His smile always lit up a room, and we had some laughs over the years. Thoughts and prayers with you all at this sad time."

Last month, Len, who had been living with mixed dementia for the past 18 months, was suspected of suffering from a chest infection. He subsequently received a pneumonia diagnosis following admission to the Royal Liverpool Hospital, where he had remained ever since.

Last week, Jane, 49, expressed gratitude to his supporters worldwide for their unwavering affection and encouragement through the ECHO. She told the ECHO last week: "People have been sending me photographs of themselves with him, photographs of where my dad signed a book for them, of them sitting on a bench with him and talking to them. My dad has always had so much time for the fans."

Len received his mixed dementia diagnosis in 2024. Jane noted the devotion towards Len, 84, had remained as strong as ever.