Liverpool re-named its airport in honour of murdered ex-Beatle John Lennon. What was the airport's former name?

Liverpool John Lennon Airport is an international airport serving North West England. On the outbreak of World War II the airport was operated by the RAF and known as RAF Speke. The airport is within the City of Liverpool on the banks of the estuary of the River Mersey some 6.5 nautical miles (12.0 km; 7.5 mi) south east of the city centre. The airport is named after Liverpudlian musician John Lennon of The Beatles. Scheduled domestic, European and North African services are operated from the airport.

Built in part of the grounds of Speke Hall, Liverpool (Speke) Airport, as the airport was originally known, started scheduled flights in 1930 with a service by Imperial Airways via Barton Aerodrome near Eccles, Salford and Castle Bromwich Aerodrome, Birmingham to Croydon Airport near London. The airport was officially opened in mid-1933. By the late 1930s, air traffic from Liverpool was beginning to take off with increasing demand for Irish Sea crossings, and a distinctive passenger terminal, control tower and two large aircraft hangars were built.

2001 saw the airport being renamed in honour of John Lennon, a founding member of The Beatles, 21 years after Lennon's death. It the first airport in the UK to be named after an individual. There is a 7 ft (2.1 m) tall bronze statue stands overlooking the check-in hall.