A former cinema projectionist gave Trowbridge Town Council members a big surprise when presenting a video film to celebrate the bowls club's centenary year.

Frank Maxwell included shots of Liverpool’s Fab Four  – The Beatles – playing on Salisbury Plain in the mid-1960s.

He filmed the footage of John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr while they were on location in Wiltshire in 1965.

Wiltshire Times: Images of The Beatles filmed by Frank Maxwell on Salisbury Plain in 1965. Image: Trevor Porter 76835-4Images of The Beatles filmed by Frank Maxwell on Salisbury Plain in 1965. Image: Trevor Porter 76835-4 (Image: Trevor Porter)

Frank said: “I heard the famous four were on Salisbury Plain so I picked up my camera and set off on my motorcycle to get some film of them.

“Although I was not a fan of The Beatles, I was pleased to get some footage.”

While on location on Salisbury Plain, The Beatles stayed for four nights at the Antrobus Arms Hotel in Amesbury.

Frank, 76, of Eastbourne Gardens, had been recording games at the Trowbridge Bowls Club, including their centenary matches last May, for a 50-minute film presentation, to celebrate the club’s 100th anniversary.

It was shown to club members last November and to Trowbridge Town Council members on Monday.

But the section that made council members sit up was the first part of his presentation featuring his images of The Beatles.

Wiltshire Times: Images of The Beatles filmed by Frank Maxwell on Salisbury Plain in 1965. Image: Trevor Porter 76835-5Images of The Beatles filmed by Frank Maxwell on Salisbury Plain in 1965. Image: Trevor Porter 76835-5 (Image: Trevor Porter)

The fab four visited Salisbury Plain while filming and recording their second feature film, HELP!, as a follow-up to their successful debut musical, "A Hard Day's Night’.

One of the film's most iconic scenes is The Beatles playing on Salisbury Plain, protected by the Army from the religious cult who want to sacrifice Ringo.

Mr Maxwell started work as a cinema projectionist at the age of 15 at the ABC Cinema in Salisbury before moving to London.

He later worked with the London media proprietor and impresario Lew Grade and film director Michael Winner.

His footage of The Beatles has previously been broadcast as part of a Home Movies programme made by David Parker for HTV.

It was also included in a film about the Swinging Sixties narrated by the Liverpool comedian Ken Dodd, whose hit best-selling No.1 hit 'Tears' was ironically only outsold by The Beatles in the 1960s.