Prattling before the Pratfall

In Pattie Boyd’s memoir, Wonderful Tonight: George Harrison, Eric Clapton, and Me, she gives an account of being on the set of A Hard Day’s Night, and meeting George Harrison. Pattie says she was reluctant at first to accept George’s request for a date, because she had a boyfriend, but Prue Bury told me that it was obvious to her from the moment George and Pattie met that they only had eyes for one another. This was what Pattie had to say at the time…

From UK Woman’s Own magazine
May 30, 1964

ME AND THE BEATLES
Especially The One Who Dated Me

by PATTIE BOYD
Our girl in the Beatles film

Who wouldn’t want to be in my shoes… lunching with George and hearing all about his brand new Jag… watching the boys at work… listening-in on an impromptu session… and maybe having the very first hearing of their next hit…

I suppose it’s just possible that when I’m about 35 I’ll look back on life and say: “That was the most exciting thing that ever happened to me”; the day, maybe, when I married a millionaire, won the Monaco Grand Prix, was the first girl on the moon, published the year’s best-seller, won an Oscar as Cleopatra. Yes, I suppose it’s just possible. But highly unlikely.

Because right now I can’t think of anything, anything at all, that could happen to me and be more exciting than spending three whole days working with the Beatles. Except dating one, of course, but that’s not exciting. It’s unbelievable.

That’s why, if you see a girl, medium height, medium face, medium blonde hair, whose most distinguishing feature is that the feet of her white cotton socks are six inches off the ground, you’ll know it’s me, Pattie Boyd. Since this whole fabulous business started I haven’t touched down once.

Well, imagine it. One day, like thousands of others, you’re just a Beatle fan. You own every one of their records (bought 9.2 a.m. the day of release), but your closest contact is their picture on your bedroom wall. Then this voice on the phone says: “How would you like to appear with the Beatles in their film?” Not only seeing them for real, but talking to them, working with them, getting to know them. And getting paid for it.

I’d met film director, Dick Lester, while I was making a crisps commercial for television. “I’m looking for two girls to play in a Beatles film. You’ve lots of expression,” he said suddenly, “are you interested?”

I could hardly believe he meant it – and as the days passed without hearing from him, I stopped trying to! Then my agent, Cherry Marshall, rang, telling me to expect a call from the studio.

I sat alone at home all day waiting for the call, asking myself: Why should they want me, anyway? I’m a photographic model, beginning to do quite well, but not an actress. Suddenly the phone rang shrilly: “This is the studio. Your call is for 6.45 a.m. tomorrow. Don’t be late.”

I shivered as I stood in the early grey light on Paddington Station next morning, and it wasn’t just the cold. With another lucky girl, Pru Bury, I was to play a schoolgirl fan. We were met and ushered aboard the special train where the scenes were to be shot. The Beatles wouldn’t be joining us until we were half an hour out of London.

For the first time, I began seriously to wonder what they would be like and convinced myself they’d be conceited, arrogant and aloof. They wouldn’t even notice me, I decided. Why should they notice a girl of whom famous photographer Norman Parkinson had asked; “Is it fashionable these days to look like a rabbit?”

My first glimpse of the real live Beatles. They appeared, rushing madly alongside the train!

Suddenly the train jolted to a stop. So did my heart. Through the window I saw four fabulous boys running alongside the train, shouting; “Wait for us!” Then they burst into the compartment, and I found myself shaking hands, saying ‘hello’ and laughing.

“Hi, you’re famous,” said George, with a grin, “I saw your pictures in the papers.”

As they joked and teased us, Pru and I began to feel as though we had known them for years. Conceited? Aloof? Big-headed? How off-beam I was. They were so sweet, so nice, so funny.

All that day, and the next, until 9.30 at night Pru and I were kept busy rehearsing and filming our roles. Actually, all I have to say is: “Prisoners!” … “There he is!”… and “Ringo!” Not the most dramatic part in the world, nor the longest. But I must say I found it pretty shattering.

The Beatles are terrific workers, full of of energy and enthusiasm, and when you’re with them you know just why they’re great. But the most marvellous thing about them is their friendliness; they don’t behave like would-famous stars at all.

Although they’re a perfect team, the boys are very different individually. Ringo is a born clown, and top favourite in America. He has everybody rolling at his antics. But for all his fooling, I think he has basically a very strong, serious character.

John seems to be the leader, somehow. He’s the married Beatle, thoughtful and serious. He doesn’t talk as much as the others, but when he does everyone listens. I think his book, John Lennon In His Own Write is just marvellous.

Paul is serious, too, especially when he’s working. He’s conscientious about everything and has a great sense of responsibility towards his fans.

My favourite is George. Why? I’m not sure. I think he’s the best looking for one thing. Also, he’s shy, and so am I. He’s interesting to talk to- sometimes serious, often very amusing. And that’s the way he made me feel. Interesting. I felt he really wanted to listen to what I had to say. Perhaps that’s why I found myself singling him out, thinking of him as George Harrison not George Beatle.

But I nearly died when he asked me out. My instant reaction was: ‘How super, I like him so much, he’s so nice.’ Then immediately it hit me. “But goodness, he’s a Beatle — one of the Beatles is asking me for a date!’

I can’t remember exactly what I said, but I must have stammered out some sort of acceptance because I found myself, Pattie Boyd, dating my favourite Beatle, George Harrison.

Fortunately, I soon got over the shock and found myself thinking of George as George. When he turned up on my parents doorstep in Wimbledon, my young sister opened the door and when she saw who it was, she nearly fainted with astonishment!

My Dates With George

Aside from being a Beatle, though, George is the sort of boy any girl would be happy — and lucky – to have as a boy friend. Yes, he’s good-looking and charming and polite. But he so lively, too – full of go, enthusiastic about life. We laugh a lot, and talk and argue, but mostly we laugh.

It is difficult, though, almost impossible in fact, to forget you’re out with a Beatle. People just don’t let you. Everywhere, in restaurants, clubs or the street, they come up and ask for autographs, or just introduce themselves, saying things like: “You’re George Beatle aren’t you? I come from Liverpool, too.”

And it’s not just the kids, either. Lots and lots of older women rush up waving pieces of paper for signatures. I often think they would condemn it as the worst of bad manners if someone rudely interrupted them while they were having dinner, or dancing, or just having a talk with friends. But George never seems to mind. Non of the boys do, in fact, and I think this is one of the nicest things about them.

And this fan worship, I didn’t realize how tough it is. They can’t get in or out of their flat at any time of the day or night without calling the police for a safe passage. There are always fans waiting.

The Future? Just Fab!

They can’t even use the telephone properly, because no matter how often and secretly they change the number, within hours the fans have it and it starts and never stops ringing. They just have to leave it off the hook.

But I have never seen one of the boys lose his temper. They are always polite and patient and friendly. They don’t even complain privately.

Yes, they’re wonderful. And meeting them is the most wonderful of the many exciting things that have happened since I made that television commercial. I’ve appeared in a film, which was fun, but I don’t particularly want to do it again. I like modelling better (and between you and me, I think I’m better at it).

And, of course, I’ve not only met the Beatles, I know them now. I’ve even holidayed in a fairytale castle in Ireland with George and John and his wife Cynthia – something I wouldn’t have dared dream about a few months ago.

What of the future? Who knows? Who cares? People say to me: ‘What do you want to do with your life? Get married? Have children.’ But I never look ahead. I just live for each day. I think you should let the future take care of itself. It will, you know.

THE END

© George Newnes