Meet the Beatles for Real

This story was found at http://www.chiswickw4.com/default.asp?section=info&page=evchg132beatles.htm

Annie Evans (now Welburn) not only got to meet the Fab Four but was photographed with them and ended up on the front cover of the News of the World.

And last week her two daughters visited Chiswick House to walk in their mother's footsteps and recall the day that catapulted her to national fame. Jessica and Laura, went on a trip down memory lane where their mother met the Beatles 50 years ago on May 20th.

Annie became a nurse, married Mick who was in the army and is mum to eight children. She is at present in a holiday home in Crete and this is her version of the story, as told to Lucinda Mac Pherson who is in charge of the project for the Chiswick House archives.

“The classroom in the girls school faced Chiswick House Gardens .... maybe there was a commotion out the front or someone ran and told us but the news was that the Beatles were in the park filming.

A few of us didn't need to be told twice ....We weren't phased by the consequences of running out of school; we were hysterical so that’s exactly what we did! Judy (Kenton,now Mcguire) was definitely with me...Im not sure who else but there was a handful of us totally excited!

I think we ran through the Park gate that faced the boys school and headed for the open area near the conservatory. We were screaming at each other, on a mission to find where they were. We came to the open area near the conservatory. A wall ran alongside the conservatory at the back. We couldn't see anyone. I shouted out that I would climb the wall to have a better view. We were hyped up and whoever was still with me ran off.
So I climbed the wall!

From the top there seemed to be an allotment/vegetable garden behind the conservatory, (which was to my right) a sort of shed type building on my left and a pile of rubbish, (probably manure) directly beneath me.

I jumped down on to it anyway and headed for the veg garden in front of me........As I passed the shed the garden opened out and there ( about 8-10 yards away) play fighting and posing were Paul and Ringo. I think they were having photos taken but I was so shocked I wasn’t really concentrating!

I have no idea what face I was pulling. I know my legs felt like jelly and I wondered what to do.
I remember feeling sort of shy and silly at the same time and I really hated the fact I was in school uniform! but anyway they hadn't noticed me .

I started walking towards them wishing I had a friend with me to share such an unreal experience! Through the middle of the vegetable garden was a path that led towards the back of the conservatory and as I was probably taking my next step I saw George and John walking down the path. Another guy was in the background in dark glasses - they were all wearing those - I thought he was Brian Epstein. Anyway I also thought he may tell me to get out.
Then John saw me and called me over.

From that moment on I was in a dream world. John and George were really lovely. John did the talking. George put his arm round me and grinned. John asked me if I was at school which was obvious, I suppose. He asked me what I wanted to take for ‘O’ levels! He said he liked art and I did too. I told him I was taking it as an extra as my dad thought it was more sensible to choose chemistry! yuk! Paul and Ringo came over ... Paul said “Hiya” I was amazed how normal they were as I knew I would look weird as I was in a daze.

Whilst we were talking ...well they were, I just enjoyed walking with them and not being asked to leave. We were heading for the back of the conservatory....As we entered George asked would I like to stay and watch them play for a bit! Silly question really....He and John settled me in the corner of the room and they played........do you know I'm not sure what, maybe Paperback Writer or Rain.... but I was on another planet seriously!

I couldn't believe I was there!!! John even came over at one point to check I was alright!
It seems like I was there ages.... Ringo said he was hungry and they sent out for food. He sat in the back of the car with fish and chips (and peas I think )and asked me if i would like some....

I’m not sure when.... but they were aware schools were out and that loads of fans were out on the grass in front so they planned to go outside to play for everyone. Before they went. I think it was John or maybe Ringo who asked me where I lived. I told them near Heathrow. They asked if I needed a lift home! I CANT BELIEVE I said I was fine and that I didn't ask for any autographs either! but I DIDNT.

Instead I went outside with them. It was mad...so many of us!!! I sat on the lawn with some of my friends and heard them play....still in an absolute daze!!!

I had the best memory! But that wasn't all....... My photo..... I hadn't got a clue that one, well several, had been taken..... came out in the Beatles fan club magazine....and the following month fans were even asking if I was Jane Asher’s sister!

Even better, years and years later Whitaker who had stored photos in a barn in Australia, published his book which was promoted by Richard and Judy and included in the SUNDAY Express Supplement and seen by my dad (who had been mad at me at the time...He was going to phone the police as I got home late - 8PM....late in those days!)

Best of all my friend Judy, who I had lost contact with, saw the photos and published them in The News of the World and we met up again after many many years! "

50 years since The Beatles filmed two ground breaking music videos in Chiswick House grounds.

It was 50 years ago today … May 20th, 1966, that the four most famous people on the planet strolled into a public park in West London to create two ground-breaking mini films which were to change the course of music history. And Chiswick House and Gardens Trust have tracked down a young gardener who was there and helped by ferrying the band's gear around.

The Beatles performed “Paperback Writer” and “Rain” in the iconic 18th century gardens of Chiswick House for promotional films that were the precursors of today’s ubiquitous music videos.

Up until then the few music promos in circulation had been straightforward studio performances, shot in black and white. But the legendary British rock band led the way, as they had in their music, creating two cutting edge films, for the first time venturing into full colour, shot on location in the verdant surroundings of Chiswick House gardens.

“Paperback Writer” opens with close ups of the Fab Four, still sporting their iconic Beatles mop hair, sitting on a bench in front of the Conservatory and a flowering wisteria. It has to be said, they look a tad bored. Then, with customary Beatles creativity and humour, it cuts to a close up of the head of an antique statue, as if he were the 5th Beatle. The film moves inside what is now a Grade 1 listed glass house with a 200 year old camellia collection, before switching to them performing in the gardens surrounded by more antique stone figures, thought to depict Caesar, Pompey and Cicero. Ringo whimsically creates a daisy chain.

Although the “B” side was called “Rain”, the day of the shoot remained fine and they are shown playing under the dappled light of shrubs and trees in the Wilderness, a series of serpentine paths in the grounds’ woodland. The opening shot is of Ringo, in what is now a cherry orchard, walking away from a group of secondary school children pressed against a locked gate, trying to get a glimpse of the famous four. Some primary school children got luckier, and can be seen climbing a cedar tree whilst the Beatles sit on the low lying branches playing their guitars.

John Kenton was an 18 year old gardener, working at Chiswick House in 1966. He was given the job of ferrying the band’s equipment round all day on a truck usually used for moving earth.

“It was very exciting. Quite an exceptional thing – the band were at the height of their fame. Just making films was unusual and most films were made in studios, not outside like this. They got there early in the morning and spent all day doing phrases and retakes as the technology was not so sophisticated in those days.

I remember they spent a lot of time between takes in the old 50’s caff. They all smoked constantly and looked very at home. Although other members of the public came in and were around when the filming took place they were very polite and left the band alone.

But then the word got out, so the dribble of people visiting the park became a flood. Pupils from the school over the road came, so the band took refuge in the potting sheds at the back of the Conservatory where the peacocks were kept.

My fondest memory is of John Lennon asking if he could ride my bike – it was a Moulton – then a modern bicycle and he had never ridden on one before. The other three stood watching and ribbing him as he cycled around the walled garden.”

Although the Beatles are long gone, fans and film aficionados still make the pilgrimage to the 65 acre heritage estate, cared for by the Chiswick House & Gardens Trust. It looks significantly better than it did, thanks to a major £12 million restoration in 2010 and is a popular setting for weddings, film and fashion shoots. There is a popular annual Camellia Show in February and March in the conservatory where a lot of the filming took place.

You too can follow in the footsteps of the Fab Four, free of charge, visiting the Exedra, the Wilderness, conservatory and walled garden and “Get Back” to where the Beatles made music history half a century ago.

Chiswick House, London, W4 2QN

Free public gardens open 7am – dusk daily

Conservatory opening times daily 10am – 4pm

Summer Sessions live music in the Gardens June 15th-19th

Blending in

Fan art backstage

Back to the Beatles

With their only son

New hat

Needing a little Help

Eleanor and friends

How do you get to Carnegie Hall?

The Joker of Cavendish Ave.

Truth is Stranger than fiction: The story of Reed Pigman

Rock n Roll circus

The British Grand Prix

Happy birthday wishes to Olivia

The couple arrives for the memorial

Hand holding on the honeymoon

What goes on: Spring 2016 MTBRF update

Rain...I don't mind!

How a school boy ended up in a Beatles promo

The school girl at Chiswick

The Gardner's story

50 years since The Beatles filmed two ground breaking music videos in Chiswick House grounds.