At the Studio with Paul

At the Studios with Paul

By Laurie Ross

 The big news from me is that I was in the U.K. in September and October (1981) and got to see Paul at Air Studios 18 times!  I still can’t believe my luck.  Pat Simmons had written my pal Terry that she had heard he was at Air so on September 21 was went to check it out, not really expecting him to show up.  But, half an hour later there he was.  It was all so easy.  When he got out of the car I was very calm and said “hi” to Paul and James  (Linda was there, too but in my excitement I didn’t even look at her).  I asked him when his new lp was coming out and he told me in the spring.  Later that day when he came back out I asked if I could take a photo and he said yes, but to make it fast as he was late, so I literally threw my purse and shopping bag on the pavement!  He was holding the koala bear Terry had given him and I didn’t even notice when I was taking the picture, but he was winking at me.  The next day I had him sign the photo (I took the film into a one our developing place) and Linda made a rude comment about my photo.

One another day, September 28^th to be exact, I had my first photo taken with Paul.  The situation of that picture happened so fast that I didn’t have time to get uptight.  Terry had her picture taken with him signing her “Rupert” book and being the pig I am I asked him if I could have my picture taken with him that night.  He couldn’t hear me so he leaned over and put his arm on my shoulder.   I repeated myself but he misunderstood me, thinking I wanted my picture taken then.  So, apparently he steered me to his side and luckily Gloria was thinking clearly and snuggled up to his other side.  I put my arm around his waist and it felt so good.  That day was my lucky day as far as getting touched.  When he came out that evening he was running but stopped just long enough to say, “Sorry girls, I’m in a terrible hurry.  I can’t stop now.”  And he reached out to give my right wrist a quick squeeze.  I must have been the closest person to him then or something.   Gloria and Terry left the next day very, very happy.  It was the first time they’d ever seen him so I was very happy for them.

On the day I had my photo taken with Paul the second time the minute he saw me with my camera, he said, “You want a picture, right?”  Just as it was being taken some jerk was about to walk into it, which didn’t upset me too badly, as you can imagine.  In fact both Paul and I figured he’d be in it (although luckily he wasn’t!) so we both have our mouths hanging open commenting about it.  On him it looks adorable.  On me it looks awful!  Not only do I look a mess but I look so bored, which I certainly wasn’t.  My face my look like it was just an everyday occurrence, but my heart was working overtime!

There were many other times we or I saw him but some days it was just “hello” and “good-bye,” although usually he always stopped to say something.  One Monday morning when he arrived her was in a terrific mood and he sang “Good morning, Good Morning” to us.  Not the Pepper version but apparently a tune from some Debbie Reynolds movie.   Also he grabbed Linda’s hand so scratch any divorce rumors you may have heard.  A couple of time he brought James and he is a little love.  A golden haired version of his dad.  He was very shy and whenever Paul stopped to talk to us he’d hide behind his father’s legs!  Paul once thought I was looking at James and pulled him out to say “hello” to us.  “Say hello to the girls, James.” To which James just looked at the ground solemnly and Paul said, “Sorry, too shy!”

We also saw George Martin who I imagine was working with Paul although we didn’t ask.  He arrived just a bit before Paul and left a bit earlier than him.  I had gotten a new photo book on the Beatles so I got him to sign the page on which he is spotlighted.  He remarked that it was a new book so must keep up to date on all the books that come out on the Beatles.  He is a real gentleman, what more can I say?  He is a great person.

My last day there I decided to tell Paul I was going back to Canada the next day and to thank him for being so kind.   Well, you’d think I was rehearsing for a Broadway play or something- repeating what I was going to say over and over again.  I wanted to shake his hand, so I was going to ask.   Well, we waited and waited for him to come out.  It was the latest he had been.  I was getting discouraged as I figured he’d be in a rush and all we’d get as he flew by was a “see ya girls.”  Was I in for a pleasant surprise!  I’ll never forget seeing him come around the corner.  I was so scared!   

He was walking quite briskly but I ran up to him and started blubbering about having to go back to Canada tomorrow and how I appreciated the autograph, the photos, and I started to thank him for his kindness in general when he started shaking my hand and said “You are?  Well I’d like to welcome you here.  I hope you enjoyed your stay on this corner.  We’re renting space here for next year so book early, OK?”  And then he was gone.  All I can remember is his nice warm hand and his eyes.   I think I said a few “I did” and “I wills” in there somewhere.  It was a lovely ay to end a trip.  Of course, I would have loved to stay longer but with a sendoff like that, I was content to go home and sort out all my thoughts.