Sam Leach obituary

Sam Leach, who has died aged 81, promoted beat dances around Liverpool in the early 1960s, including several with the Beatles. He was a firm believer in local talent and without him the Merseybeat scene would not have developed as it did.

Sam was born in Liverpool, son of Stanley Leach, a clerk working on the city docks, and his Canadian wife, Pauline. On leaving school, Sam worked for English Electric, but he hated being told what to do and resolved to become self-employed, embarking on a series of ventures that included damp-proofing properties and running a hair salon. He was perpetually optimistic, always expecting something good to turn up.