The Day the Beatles Dropped in for lunch
The Newark Adviser
She clearly remembers the day in October 1964 that she met The Beatles when they called into the Old England Hotel, Sutton-on-Trent, for a late lunch on their way from London to Bradford.
The 50th anniversary of the release of The Beatles’ first hit, Love Me Do, is being celebrated, and brought the memories flooding back for Vivien, who now lives in Peterborough.
She was at St Clare’s Convent School in The Park, Newark, when her mother, Mrs Janet Stevenette, who was the head waitress at the Old England, called to collect her out of the blue.
“She told the nuns that I had a dental appointment but when we were outside she told me that The Beatles were at the hotel and I had the chance to meet them,” said Vivien, who was ten at the time.
Vivien said she was shy and had peered at the Fab Four round the kitchen door.
Paul McCartney saw her and encouraged her to go and talk to him. She said that he asked what her name was and about her school.
The Beatles were served ham and eggs and, although they were offered a bottle of Marquis de la Rose Sauternes, she said they all opted for a glass of milk instead.
The visit was reported and pictured by the Advertiser, and as they prepared to leave Paul McCartney agreed to have one last picture taken with Vivien.
Vivien said that when she got home she told all her friends what had happened but nobody believed her until she was able to show them the Advertiser coverage.
“It was amazing,” she said. “They were so friendly. I won’t ever forget it.”