The Beatles are still arguably the biggest band in the world. Formed in 1960 by John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Pete Best – who would be replaced by Ringo Starr – the Fab Four found worldwide fame with their chart-friendly rock and roll.

Today is World Beatles Day and to celebrate we have found the Sussex links to the band that struck a chord with everyone

1. Victor Spinetti

The Argus:

Victor Spinetti with John Lennon and Yoko Ono in 1968. The veteran actor, whose notable roles included appearances in three Beatles films, died at the age of 82.

Victor Spinetti spent a large part of his life in Brighton and had close connections with The Beatles.

Victor will always be known for his roles in The Beatles’ three live action films – A Hard Day’s Night, Help! and Magical Mystery Tour.

All three starred John, Paul, George and Ringo and had a setlist which featured many of their classic hits.

During, and after, filming for the three pictures Victor became close with the four musicians.

2. Ringo's honeymoon

The Argus:

Drummer Ringo Starr was smitten with Sussex after the band played several shows here in Brighton.

He liked it so much, he returned for his honeymoon after marrying his first wife Maureen Cox in 1965.

Ringo took over as drummer in 1962, replacing original member Pete Best.

Ringo and Maureen divorced in 1975 and he went on to marry former Bond girl Barbara Bach, who starred in The Spy Who Loved Me.

3. Lennon memorabilia

The Argus:

Photographer Colin Payne took photographs outside the Dakota building in New York when John Lennon was shot dead and they were among items in a sale of memorabilia at Gorringes Auctioneers in Lewes in 2013.

Lennon was shot outside his home on December 8, 1980, by Mark David Chapman.

The murder happened just three weeks after John released the album Double Fantasy with Yoko Ono.

4. An Ashurst Christmas time

The Argus:

The Fountain Inn in Ashurst, north of Steyning, once played host to one of the greatest Christmas parties of all time. In 1979, Paul McCartney and his musician took cameras and fans to the pub to film the music video for his holiday hit Wonderful Christmastime. It also includes footage filmed at the Hippodrome Theatre in Eastbourne, where McCartney rehearsed for 1979 UK tour with new band Wings. The song was later added to the 1993 reissue of Wings’ Back To The Egg album.

5. Rare record sells

The Argus:

A rare Beatles record donated to a British Heart Foundation shop in Midhurst sold for almost £10,000, the highest-selling item in the charity’s history.

The starting price was £999.99.

But the 24 bidders, who made 64 bids between them, brought the final figure up to £9,400.

The record was a demo of the band’s 1962 song Love Me Do and the label had Paul McCartney’s name spelt wrong.

It peaked at number 17 in the charts.

6. Seaside living

The Argus:

Here we see Millionaire’s Row, aka Western Esplanade, on Hove seafront, home to a string of celebrities including, at one time, Paul McCartney.

He lived there with his second wife Heather Mills.

The pair later separated and DJ Norman Cook bought it from Ms Mills.

He still lives there and his neighbours have included the likes of Adele and David Walliams.

Despite not living in Hove any more Paul still likes to call Sussex home.

He has owned a rambling estate in Peasmarsh, a few miles from Rye, for decades – he lived there with wife Linda and their children, who went to the local comprehensive school.

Heather Mills also lived there for a while but is said to have disliked it.

7. Hippodrome shows

The Argus:

The Beatles came to Brighton in 1964 and performed a crowd-pleasing set at the Hippodrome concert hall.

The band packed out the venue, which is no longer in use, and delighted fans with their 12 song set list.

Opening the show with the storming Twist And Shout they then played a cover of Barrett Strong’s Money (That’s What I Want).

Can’t Buy Me Love, Things We Said Today, I’m Happy Just to Dance With You, I Should Have Known Better, If I Fell, I Wanna Be Your Man and A Hard Day’s Night followed.

The show ended with the band performing another cover song, this time it was Little Richard’s Long Tall Sally.

It would be the final show The Beatles would play in Brighton.

8. Please, Please Me

The Argus:

The debut studio album by The Beatles was released in March 1963.

The original print of the record is extremely rare and worth a small fortune to anyone who happens to own it.

The record features hit songs such as Love Me Do, Twist And Shout and of course the title track, Please, Please Me.

The album flew into the UK charts at number one and is still considered one of the best Beatles albums to date.

Did you own a copy of this record?