Tales of Paul (part 1)

Our first attempt at meeting Paul was a few years back when he had his working classical piece premiered at the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall. It was announced that Paul was giving 200 tickets to the concert free to the people of Liverpool. Jayne and I decided that on the day the tickets were being given out that we would go early to queue up.

So Jayne stayed at mine that night and we woke up at 4am, had breakfast and left the house to get the 5am bus. We got to the Cavern for about 5.30 and the place was deserted. We walked about for a bit, watched people starting to arrive to go to work but still no queue was forming so when McDonalds opened at 8am we went for a cup of tea.

When we got back there was a man standing by the Cavern Door so we asked if he was waiting for the tickets, he said yes and we started talking about all sorts of things. As we talked more and more people started to queue up behind us. We were glad because at least we were guaranteed tickets.

At about 9.15am some journalists arrived and were asking us questions such as what we thought of Paul’s work etc. Robbie the man who we had queued behind told journalists that Jayne and I had been the first there and suddenly a big fuss was being made of us. Our picture was taken and we were interviewed about 3 times in all.

It was getting to 10 am and the Cavern doors opened. Time had come for the tickets to be given out. Robbie got his 2 tickets first then I went in and I was given 2 tickets then Jayne was given 2 tickets. We were really delighted by this time and a woman came up and interviewed us again and some one took our photo again then we walked off with our prized tickets in our hands.

We went to a lovely little café we know called Lucy In The Sky with Diamonds and met up with Robbie again. Then we went home. We got home and the phone started ringing. Some more of my friends letting me know that I was on TV. Then that night we got the local newspaper as always and there on the second page was a picture of Jayne and I. Fame at last!!!

On the night of the concert Jayne, myself, my cousin Debbie and my other friend also called Jane set off for the Philharmonic Hall all dressed up. We sat down in our seats on the second row, right at the front. The auditorium soon filled with lots of familiar faces. (People we had met at other Beatle things). Then a hum of excitement started and as we looked around we saw Paul’s head above the crowd and we all started to clap and cheer. I was really excited. I was actually sitting in the same room as Paul. Wow!

The concert got underway and the music was beautiful. I was spellbound, the whole magic of the orchestra. It was just wonderful. Then the interval came and I said to everyone ‘come on lets go the bar’. My cousin Debbie followed and so did the 2 Jane’s. Debbie and I walked out of the Auditorium and up the stairs to the bar area thinking that the two Jane’s were still following but at the bar area I turned to ask who wanted what only to find they had disappeared. We looked over at the bar and knew we would never get served so I said to Debbie ‘ Lets go over to the other bar’, and started walking through the crowd of people. I had to stop though when I got to a red rope. It had been sectioned off for VIP’s. I said excitedly to Debbie ‘lets see if we can see him’ Debbie nodded in agreement. All of Paul's family and friends were there. I was saying hello to most of the ones who had been on TV. Then there he was, right in front of me about 6 metres away from me talking to a shortish man. Paul was facing me and I nudged Debbie and said ‘there he is’ as I said this Paul must of got bored with the man as he looked over his shoulder straight at me and winked. My knees turned to jelly and both myself and my cousin said ‘oh my God he winked’ we were very excited at this stage but the call came for us to return to our seats. All the way down the stairs we talked of how good looking he still was. Then I saw all the VIP’s returning down the stairs and thought Paul has to come this way and told my cousin to come with me quick. We stood at the doorway and Paul came down the stairs. Others were waiting too and it was becoming crazy but I stuck my hand out over a security mans shoulder and Paul shook my hand. I couldn’t believe it.

All the way back to our seats I said about him shaking my hand. When we got to our seats the 2 Jane's were there saying ‘where did we get to’ the tale came out and Jayne said ‘you lucky thing, it’s not fair’ I just replied ‘well you should have waited a bit longer for the toilets then’. The rest of the concert went on with me in a daze. At the end Paul came on to the stage and thanked us all for coming did a little speech then left the stage.

We left the Hall and went home with Debbie and I tormenting the other two about seeing Paul close up and winking. It is needless to say that I went home that night extremely pleased and slept with a smile on my face.

A few days later I promised Jayne that her time for meeting Paul would come and in the following months an opportunity to see Paul again arose. But I will tell you all about that in part 2.