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5.11am
31 March 2008
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I met Paul and Linda McCartney in 1992 when I was 16. She had an exhibition of her photos at a gallery in Bath, England, and I managed to get a ticket to the private view. They both signed my Linda McCartney: Sixties book. It was John Lennon ‘s birthday (9 October) and I got her to add the date under her autograph, and Paul signed my Sgt Pepper CD cover too.
The exhibition was at the Royal Photographic Society in Bath, where I lived at the time. I think my parents knew someone who was an RPS member, and, weirdly, didn’t want to go. So me and a fellow Beatles-obsessed friend went along. There were crowds of people waiting behind barriers outside for the McCartneys – who were only rumoured to be turning up – and inside it became a bit of a scrum too.
I bought a copy of the Sixties book before they arrived. I remember people inside watching Paul and Linda as they entered, but nobody bothering him too much. But being young and bold I bowled up to them and asked if they’d sign the book. That seemed to open the floodgates and they signed a great many more autographs for the next hour or so.
I remember at one point, later on, asking Linda to put a date in my book. “Can’t you write it yourself?” she replied. “Well, it’s John Lennon ‘s birthday and it’d really mean a lot to me…” I don’t think they’d realised the date, but that was enough to persuade her. I even called her Mrs McCartney to try and be extra polite!
I had long hair and granny glasses at the time, looking a little like Lennon circa the White Album . Ah, times change… I remember telling a reporter from the Bath Chronicle that it was Lennon’s birthday, and he worked it in to his report, along with a quote from me (I don’t think I have the cutting anymore, sadly). A lovely memory.
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2.42pm
26 January 2010
Offline I met Pete Best once at a Beatles convention at the Adelphi hotel in Liverpool. Does that count? Well he was a Beatle! He had just brought out his Pete Best story book(which funnily enough i've recently ordered off amazon and just re read) I don't remember too much about him to be honest but he was a nice guy and gave us plenty of time and was patient with us asking him stupid questions. 'What was John like?' etc. I was only15ish at the time and i remember all i could think was 'he's played with The Beatles!' which not many people got to do. I felt sorry for him actually, thinking how hard his life must have been when The Beatles were huge. He signed my book which i've long since lost. The thing i remember more about that day is that Gerry Marsden was there doing his usual 'I was John Lennons best mate and we were dead close to The Beats routine'. I didn't ask him for an autograph which i don't regret to this day!
Onward my friends, and glory for the thirty ninth!!
6.39pm
8 November 2012
Offline Taking a coffee break, thought I’d peruse the oldest in the Yesterday and Today archives
Joe said
I met Paul and Linda McCartney in 1992 when I was 16. She had an exhibition of her photos at a gallery in Bath, England, and I managed to get a ticket to the private view. They both signed my Linda McCartney: Sixties book. It was John Lennon ‘s birthday (9 October) and I got her to add the date under her autograph, and Paul signed my Sgt Pepper CD cover too.
The exhibition was at the Royal Photographic Society in Bath, where I lived at the time. I think my parents knew someone who was an RPS member, and, weirdly, didn’t want to go. So me and a fellow Beatles-obsessed friend went along. There were crowds of people waiting behind barriers outside for the McCartneys – who were only rumoured to be turning up – and inside it became a bit of a scrum too.
I bought a copy of the Sixties book before they arrived. I remember people inside watching Paul and Linda as they entered, but nobody bothering him too much. But being young and bold I bowled up to them and asked if they’d sign the book. That seemed to open the floodgates and they signed a great many more autographs for the next hour or so.
I remember at one point, later on, asking Linda to put a date in my book. “Can’t you write it yourself?” she replied. “Well, it’s John Lennon ‘s birthday and it’d really mean a lot to me…” I don’t think they’d realised the date, but that was enough to persuade her. I even called her Mrs McCartney to try and be extra polite!
I had long hair and granny glasses at the time, looking a little like Lennon circa the White Album . Ah, times change… I remember telling a reporter from the Bath Chronicle that it was Lennon’s birthday, and he worked it in to his report, along with a quote from me (I don’t think I have the cutting anymore, sadly). A lovely memory.
What a wonderful memory, Joe. Did you get to chat with Paul at all?
parlance
8.59pm
Members
18 March 2013
Offline Oh I shall add my meetings and family meetings/people who I have worked with who met the Beatles 
I met Pete Shotton (the washboard player in The Quarrymen) in Dublin (where he lives now) said “hi” he seemed sound signed a piece of paper for me as I had nothing Beatles related on me at the time.
My auntie met Yoko in New York, she got an autograph for me and sent it over, she didn’t get to talk to Yoko though only got 2 pieces of paper signed.
I’ve worked/met with quite a few people who met The Beatles/one of The Beatles including:
Gay Byrne who (with Ken Dodd) interviewed the lads, he said they were “nice, polite young men” Here’s a video of it actually (Gay’s at the beginning)
One of the dubbers for Harry Potter in Irish (the Dumbledore actually) went to their gig in ’63 at the Adelphi Cinema in Dublin (see my profile location) he said he couldn’t hear anything and I quote “stupid screaming girls” 
I met a lovely woman who worked at the Gresham Hotel (where The Beatles stayed in Dublin), she worked as a maid there and managed to steal pillow cases from the boys’ beds after they left 
She still has them at her house.
My Dad also met Frank Hall (who interviewed The Beatles when they were in Dublin, he was also the man responsible for the banning of “Life of Brian” in Ireland), said he was a very strict man who wasn’t really into The Beatles music 
And I also have plans to meet The Quarrymen when they perform at the Dublin Beatles Fest this year (for the 50th anniversary of the boys’ concert in Dublin) in November 
INTROVERTS UNITE! Separately....in your own homes!
***
Make Love, Not Wardrobes!
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"Stop throwing jelly beans at me"- George Harrison
11.20pm
5 November 2011
Offline I wouldn’t call it meeting him, but I did get to touch Ringo’s hand, and then he gave me a wristband.
All living things must abide by the laws of the shape they inhabit
11.22pm
8 November 2012
Offline5.01am
14 February 2013
Offline I think it counts too! Wow! Awesome stories. What a dream come true to meet a Beatle! Or even know someone who did…very cool, indeed.
"....take a sad song & make it Meilleur"....
5.08pm
31 March 2008
Offline parlance said
What a wonderful memory, Joe. Did you get to chat with Paul at all?
Only briefly. When I asked him to sign the Sixties book he would have said something and I’d have thanked him, but I don’t remember an exchange. Then later on I went back to try to get my Sgt Pepper CD inlay signed. He said: “Haven’t I done one for you already?” (by that point he was surrounded by people wanting autographs) I said something like “Yes, but please sign this, I’d be forever grateful” and he did. This was over 20 years ago and my memory is a bit hazy, but we definitely exchanged words.
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Don't miss The Bowie Bible – now live!
2.23am
17 January 2013
Offline 
That’s so cool Joe!
"Please don't bring your banjo back, I know where it's been.. I wasn't hardly gone a day, when it became the scene.. Banjos! Banjos! All the time, I can't forget that tune.. and if I ever see another banjo, I'm going out and buy a big balloon!"
3.29am
14 December 2009
Offline I guess IntoTheSkyWithDiamonds hasn’t seen this thread…He encountered Paul and exchanged a few words on the beach at Long Island, I believe it was, while one of them was walking a dog, iirc. He mentioned it in some other Paul thread…anyways, if he sees the thread he can tell the story himself. (Unless he misunderstood the thread title, thinking that meeting an individual Beatle isn’t good enough…)
Paul: Yeah well… first of all, we’re bringing out a ‘Stamp Out Detroit’ campaign.
3.53pm
3 May 2012
Offline I think he once said that his wife is one of Nancy’s friends, as well (and therefore met him another time). You lucky people.
Moving along in our God given ways, safety is sat by the fire/Sanctuary from these feverish smiles, left with a mark on the door.
(Passover - I. Curtis)
6.40am
Reviewers
29 August 2013
Offline Closest I came was at Heathrow in 1976 when I was arriving from Oz and Paul and entourage were heading in the opposite direction at the terminal. I was still a teenager (just) so yelled out ‘Hi Paul’ and got a smile and a wave in return.
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4.23pm
3 May 2012
Offline ^ Ah, that’s nice. Something ‘s better than nothing I say! 
Moving along in our God given ways, safety is sat by the fire/Sanctuary from these feverish smiles, left with a mark on the door.
(Passover - I. Curtis)
4.45pm
Moderators
Members
Reviewers
20 August 2013
Offline To think, all these years, I could have walked right by him and not known who he was. 
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4.47pm
14 February 2013
Offline Super cool! A smile & a wave…
Ahhh! I’m jealous!
"....take a sad song & make it Meilleur"....
5.48pm
21 November 2012
Offline I always love reading stories about people who met them or persons who worked with them or were close to them in some way.
There’s also this site..wasn’t it called meetthebeatlesforreal.blogspot.com or something like that? Some great stories on there as well.
9.23pm
8 August 2013
Offline I work at the Royal Courts of Justice and when Paul was divorcing Heather Mills I knew he would be there for a week or so. I was desperate to catch a glimpse of him but the building is so huge (I’ve been working there for 12 years and Don’t fully know my way around it all!) I didn’t know where he’d be. I spent one lunch hour waiting outside the main entrance but no joy. One day someone called me and said she knew where he would be walking through that morning. I went with her even though I wasn’t getting my hopes up. It was in a fairly private part of the building and there was just the 3 of us standing there. We’d been waiting for about 15 minutes when my friend says “here he comes” and there, walking right past me was Paul and his lawyer. I was happy just to see him in the flesh but he turned his head, made eye contact, and said good morning to me! I said morning back and he went on his way. Needless to say, it was the best moment in my life and I went back to my office on cloud nine! We went back to the same spot the following 2 days and he said good morning to us each time which i thought was lovely because he didn’t have to, we didn’t speak to him first we were just gawping at him! He was so good looking in the flesh, much better than in pictures. It thrilled me that I have made eye contact with the beautiful and talented Paul McCartney ! Sorry for the long post!
10.03pm
Moderators
Members
Reviewers
20 August 2013
Offline Hannah said
I work at the Royal Courts of Justice and when Paul was divorcing Heather Mills I knew he would be there for a week or so. I was desperate to catch a glimpse of him but the building is so huge (I’ve been working there for 12 years and Don’t fully know my way around it all!) I didn’t know where he’d be. I spent one lunch hour waiting outside the main entrance but no joy. One day someone called me and said she knew where he would be walking through that morning. I went with her even though I wasn’t getting my hopes up. It was in a fairly private part of the building and there was just the 3 of us standing there. We’d been waiting for about 15 minutes when my friend says “here he comes” and there, walking right past me was Paul and his lawyer. I was happy just to see him in the flesh but he turned his head, made eye contact, and said good morning to me! I said morning back and he went on his way. Needless to say, it was the best moment in my life and I went back to my office on cloud nine! We went back to the same spot the following 2 days and he said good morning to us each time which i thought was lovely because he didn’t have to, we didn’t speak to him first we were just gawping at him! He was so good looking in the flesh, much better than in pictures. It thrilled me that I have made eye contact with the beautiful and talented Paul McCartney ! Sorry for the long post!
Hanna, you told the story very well. That is so sweet that he said good morning each time. He was going through such a difficult time in his life, but he was still able to be cheery to other people. *sighs in admiration*
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10.50pm
8 August 2013
Offline Thanks cbatcu! It’s nice to tell the story to people who appreciate how I felt. Even now I can’t believe he spoke to me and wish I could travel back in time to relive it all over again. And I really cannot stress enough how gorgeous he looked! Even my friend who was with me, was 18 years old at the time and is not a Beatles fan said he looked cute in the flesh!
12.24am
8 November 2012
Offline cbatcu said
Hanna, you told the story very well. That is so sweet that he said good morning each time. He was going through such a difficult time in his life, but he was still able to be cheery to other people. *sighs in admiration*
I was thinking the same. Thanks for sharing, Hannah.
parlance
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