Get Back: memories shared in Beatles experiment

A sold-out Beatles memory experiment saw strangers come together to share stories, sing and dance, as researchers gathered data on how the Fab Four can trigger recall.

The event, held on Sunday at the University of Wolverhampton's SPACE venue as part of the city's literature festival, saw participants share personal memories of the band while researchers studied how sensory cues unlock recollection.

A performance by tribute act Beatlemania rounded off proceedings as a thank you to those who took part, with attendees singing and dancing along.

The team will now analyse the data collected during the experiment.

Researcher Megan Powell told BBC Radio WM the observations were "very encouraging" and the event had become a "vibrant social space".

"People who had never met before were quite literally coming together to share their stories," she said.

"It really created a sense of community and shared heritage."

Among those sharing memories was Pamela Dumbleton.

She saw the Beatles at Birmingham Hippodrome in 1963 and was just seven rows from the front.

It is likely only due to that proximity she was able to hear the band over the deafening screams of the crowd.

"I could hear definitely the guitars and the drums," the 78-year-old explained.

"I could hear voices. It isn't like today with modern equipment but because I zoned in… on the stage I concentrated and I heard it.

"It was a visual thing for me. I really wanted to see them more probably than I wanted to hear them. It was just magnificent."

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