Touching Tribute to John Lennon on Anniversary of His Death

The light in John Lennon's childhood bedroom is left on every year to remember the famous lead singer of The Beatles.

Lennon grew up in the northern English city of Liverpool with his Aunt Mimi from 1945 to 1964, when he found fame with the Fab Four.

Every year on October 9, the light in his bedroom is left on overnight to commemorate what would have been Lennon's birthday. It is also switched on for one night on December 8, to mark the day Lennon was killed.

Lennon was fatally shot in 1980 as he walked from his car to the apartment he shared with wife Yoko Ono and son Sean in New York City.

Ono bought the home in Liverpool's Woolton suburb in 2002 and later donated it to the National Trust to protect it from being developed or destroyed. The National Trust is a conservation charity that protects and preserves important sites in the United Kingdom.

"Millions of people worldwide remember John's life on the anniversary of his death, and we on The Beatles team are proud to continue this tradition for them," Andrew Jones, assistant welcome manager for the Beatles tour, told Newsweek.

"The light was switched on around 10 years ago by the first National Trust custodian of Mendips, the childhood home of John Lennon, as a sign of respect, and it's a privilege to keep this tradition going."

It described the home as "a fine example of 1950s semi-detached housing" and "was lovingly maintained by John's Aunt Mimi."

"Neat and tidy, yet still cozy. It's a real home," the Trust website reads.

The Trust also maintains the home of Paul McCartney, with tours available for visitors "to step back in time and experience the humble beginnings of two of the greatest songwriters of all time."

Earlier this year, the Trust's "Beatles' Childhood Homes" tour won the Experience of the Year award at the Liverpool City Region Tourism Awards.

"These properties offer a unique glimpse into the early lives of two of the world's most famous musicians, and we are proud to be able to preserve and share their heritage and stories with the public, in particular the next generation of talented musicians," said Mike Innerdale, director of the National Trust's North Region, in a statement at the time.

Fans reacted to the sweet gesture on X, formerly Twitter.

"Isn't this the sweetest thing?" wrote one person.

Another added: "Always missed, always loved."

And a third wrote: "A single light is left on in the bedroom John Lennon occupied in his home at 251 Menlove Avenue, Woolton, Liverpool on the anniversary of his death and birth."

Mark David Chapman pleaded guilty to murdering Lennon and had said he was angered by a number of previous statements that Lennon had made, including saying The Beatles were "bigger than Jesus."

He was allegedly inspired by the 1951 novel The Catcher in the Rye and hoped murdering Lennon would turn him into the book's protagonist, Holden Caulfield, according to an Apple+ documentary called John Lennon: Murder Without a Trial.

Chapman was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison and had his parole denied for the twelfth time in 2022.

Update 12/11/23, 2:45 a.m. ET. This article was updated to include comment from Andrew Jones.