But that theory was disproved last night (Thursday) when the first fully-signed agreement between former Beatles manager Brian Epstein and the Fab Four went up for auction in London.

The contract - Epstein's personal copy - was drafted by solicitor David Harris, now a retired District Judge living in Woolton.

It was expected to be sold for hundreds of thousands.

Mr Harris admitted that when he was asked to draw up the document, he knew little about the music business or The Beatles who were yet to secure a recording contract.

"It was December 1961 and I was a young solicitor who had been made a partner in Silverman, Livermore earlier in the year," he recalled.

"I knew Brian - not very well - and knew he was getting involved in the music business. He phoned me and said he was interested in a group called The Beatles, which frankly meant nothing to me, and said he wanted a contract done before Christmas."

One of the signatories was to be Pete Best but he was replaced by one Richard Starkey aka Ringo Starr.

Initially the contracts were in Epstein's name but Mr Harris advised him to form NEMS Enterprises Ltd which is the name which appeared on the contract auctioned yesterday.

It was signed in January 1962 by the four Beatles along with George Harrison and Paul McCartney's fathers who had to give consent as their sons were under 21.

Epstein refused to ink his name for more than six months as he sought to fulfil his promise to the group to secure them a recording contract. He only did so in October 1962 after a deal was agreed with EMI to release their first hit Love Me Do.

In an era where young, unsuspecting musicians were regularly fleeced by their managers, Mr Harris said Epstein was "scrupulously" fair. He said: "He didn't want to take advantage of them and was concerned that their parents be fully involved as some were under age."

Mr Harris went on to draft contracts for other members of Epstein's stable of artists including Cilla Black, Billy J Kramer and Gerry & the Pacemakers.

And his legal expertise lived on in the Liverpool music scene.

He recalled: "Years later, a new client said he was interested in managing a group and said he wanted to show me a contract to see what I thought.

"I told him, 'This contract is absolutely brilliant. The chap who drafted this knew exactly what he was doing, you can't do better'. In fact it was one of my contracts that had done the rounds."

Away from his legal career, Mr Harris, 74, has been active in communal affairs, being a former chairman of the Stapely Aid committee, he was honorary secretary of both Greenbank Drive Synagogue and the old Zionist Central Council.

He raised funds for UJIA and was captain of Lee Park Golf Club in 1990. Wife Susan has been involved with Liverpool Jewish Women's Welfare and Stapely.

As 'Maxwell's silver hammer' fell on yesterday's auction, Mr Harris mused on whether as the man who put the contract together, he should be entitled to a cut of the proceeds.

He grinned: "That would be nice but there you are."