THE long and winding road of pop history is leading the Beatles back to Denbighshire. The Fab Four are to feature in a fascinating photographic exhibition at Bodelwyddan Castle, part of a series of events across the region that will take advantage of Liverpool’s status as this year’s European capital of culture. During their early days, the Beatles played at venues in Rhyl, Prestatyn, Mold and Llandudno. At the height of their fame, they returned to North Wales in 1967 when they attended a seminar by their mentor and spiritual guide the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi at Bangor. Both Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr are returning to their home city to help Liverpool celebrate being the European Capital of Culture in 2008. And the Beatles exhibition at Bodelwyddan Castle between July 28 and September 28 will be helping North Wales to grab a piece of the action. According to Tourism Partnership North Wales, the honour bestowed on Merseyside is also a great opportunity for us here. The Beatles exhibition is among a series of events, large and small, being promoted by Tourism Partnership in the hope of riding the crest of Liverpool’s wave. They have created a special North Wales ’08 website together with a brochure that will be distributed in the North West of England. Regional Strategy Director Dewi Davies, said: "We have to capitalise on the opportunities that are generated by Liverpool being on that European stage for the whole of 2008. "I think we’ve got to be realistic on what we can achieve and what we can measure as a result of investing in that big party. "We have engaged with Liverpool European Capital of Culture, we’ve engaged with partners in North Wales and by now we’ve got a programme of events and activities that we think is worth shouting about. "We are promoting this programme particularly over the border in Liverpool and the North West of England. "The message is that we have fantastic cultural celebrations and cultural events in North Wales, only a short distance away from Liverpool. "We’ve defined over a dozen events that are centre stage in our great outdoors and they include such fantastic events now as Bryn Terfel Faenol Festival in Bangor or Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. "It’s good that we should highlight these to potential consumers so they can look over the Mersey and further afield so that people can come and join us. "The Beatles exhibition at Bodelwyddan Castle will feature photographs on loan from the National Portrait Gallery." | 
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