October 1966

BEATLE SCOOP # 2

EDITOR'S NOTE: It is with prode that we present this once-in-a-lifetime SCOOP from the heart of beautiful and tallented JANE ASHER. 
Like millions of other girls, Jane flipped for Paul almost from the moment their eyes met! But Paul was ALMOST too busy to notice. 
Will there be a fairytale ending for this famous couple ... wedding bells? What do YOU think? And now, read, read Jane'ns OWN story of their love. How they met. As he was then. As he is NOW.

In 1960, in Liverpool, all the boys around twenty years of age were wearing long hair, tight jeans and zippered high boots with pointed toes. 
Most of them played the guitar on Saturday night and Sunday in the innumerable clubs in the city. They didn't make much money then, but later found national popularity and became a craze.
My brother, PETER knew some of these musicians, many of whom were beatniks, and for a while he replaced an absent member in one of these groups.

The most famous group in Liverpool were called THE BEATLES. They dressed in fashionable outfits, played at the Cavern Club and became very popular

 with the girls. Peter had known them when they were called THE QUARRYMEN and he was friendly with JOHN LENNON who was doing the guitar accompaniment. As for me, 
I knew by sight the bass guitarrist, PAUL McCARTNEY as we had been to the same school. We'd fisrt met some three years back but he'd never really talked to me. Perhaps he didn't remember me.
One night I went down to the Cavern with my brother. I had just taken off my coat when Peter said to me: "Jane, this is John and Paul."
 I was the first to put my hand out. Paul opened his eyes wide with suprprise - and I smiled.
"I never thought that you were Peter's sister," he said. "you have changed! How are you?"
I found myself feeling a little ridiculous and didn't know what to say to him. He looked at me with that superior air he affects so well and laughed.
He didn't wear his hair so long in those days and his baby face attracted the attention of all the girls. And although I had no right to be, I was jealous of that!
One night Peter said to mother: "May I invite two friends for dinner tomorrow? They are leaving for Germany and I doubt if I'll see them for several months."
Peter then told me that the two friends were John and Paul. I slept very little that night. I was convinced thet Paul wouldn't remember me. 
I had no right to say anything but ... yes, I liked him.
The dinner was difficult for all of us and it was obvious that the two Beatles were leaving Liverpool with some regret. They had to accompany heir singer, 
TONY SHERIDEN, to Hamburg as he had decided to make career in Germany.
I found it difficult to hide the way I felt about Paul, and wondered if he would notice. When he left the house he gave me an adress ... Star Club, Hamburg, Germany.
During those long months I wrote him a long letter every week, but he didn't write me much. He had been very successful, making money, letting his hair grow...
What a little idiot I had been occupying myself with him! I was just one of many grils trying to win his heart! I decided I was going to make myself 
get over this and persuaded my mother to accompany me to London. I would work in the theater.
This was at the end of 1961.
Live in the capital was more hurried than in Liverpool. I became another person. I started taking a course in dramatics and applied myself to Shakespeare 
and the poems of Lord Byron. Then, more news from Paul! He was coming back in July! I received a brief telegram: "I will be returning on the 15th. I kiss you. Paul."
I was overcome with joy. It wasn't till the 18th that I got a telephone call. Paul told me that he would be returning to Liverpool for three months. 
They were going to sign a contract with a young man called Brian Epstein.
When my vacation came around nothing would keep me in London. My parents were staying in a country house about ten miles from the city. Paul and I dated twice.
This was when I began to think of myself at his gril friend. Their first record had been made, then came Please Please Me and I Saw Her Standing There, 
two compositions by John and Paul, wich did very well.
From the start they were very popular. But my Paul was also the Paul dear to thousands of other girls. This was the reason that I had to keep my secret.
My existence had to be kept from jopurnalists. The same thing for CYNTHIA, John's wife.
At the begining of 1963 I left for London. John, Paul, GEORGE and RINGO had preceded me by several weeks. She Loves You, their great success,
 was  at the top of the hit parade. They had become the most popular musical group. They were triumphant.
Paul called me on the phone every day.
When he was on tour I lived in an appartment in London's Belgravia and kept the adress a State Secret. It was gayly decorated and a little showy,
but I had some rare objects: an ancient barometer, a bronze lamp, a painting by a well-known painter and many things in Regency style. By contract, the kitchen 
was ultra modern and American style.
Some believe that Paul is a little snobbish and shy. This is not completely true. His sense of humor is sharp and precise. His smile, when he lets himself
 smile, is difficult to resist.
Once, on a Saturday morning, he just went off by himself for a stay of the south coast. He returned on the Monday. I didn't ask him a single question. 
I have never sopken to him about this trip.
Soon afterwards I had to change my appartment. His fans never let up. The phone rang every five minutes.
Then Paul bought a house ten miles north of London - a villa with fifteen rooms which looked like a castle. He was isolated from the world and his telephone 
number was changed every week.
I helped him decorate it in the romantic style of the nineteenth century. It is very charming.
In order to drive through London, Paul always uses his little Cooper-S wich is a two seater. When we are free we visit the homes of the other three Beatles. 
This evening, for example, we shall go to the Scotch Club in order to hear some good music: the ANIMALS and MICK JAGGER have appeared there.
Paul is working hard at the moment. He hopes to be finished with the music of their third film, A Talent For Loving, in about a month. As for me, I'm currenlty
working in the London theater.
Paul was able to come to the premiere and there isn't a day when he doesn't ask me about the success of the play. My beatle, for me, is not afraid to be tender, 
attentive and delightful."


Pages 24 to 27. Many thanks to Lotte Haldrup to send me this article. Pics can be found at 1966 album.