“We played all over South Wales and played at Abergavenny Town Hall, as it was called then, probably once a month. We got to know the entertainments manager Eddie Tattersall, and one day he called and said: “I’ve got a gig for you.” I said we were already booked that day, and he said ‘it’s The Beatles.’ I said ‘I’ll unbook it’!”
“It was really happening for them, and I don’t know how Eddie managed to land them. He was a real go-getter. We were absolutely thrilled to get the chance to play with them. You already knew they were special. I’d seen them on the television and thought they were fantastic.
“On the night the anticipation, the atmosphere, was incredible. We went on and people were screaming and shouting. I believe there were about 600 there, but I’m not sure they paid much attention to us!
We shared a dressing room with them, and it was an unusual night, because John Lennon was recording (TV show) Jukebox Jury, and was in London. Their manager Brian Epstein arranged a helicopter (It landed in Bailey Park). It was quite late by then and we’d been chatting with Paul, George and Ringo, who were funny and friendly. While they were waiting they signed lots of autograph books that were taken to the dressing room by their fans, and we had our photograph taken with them.
“When they took to the stage after Lennon arrived, the hall erupted. They’d been contracted for two 20-minute sets, but because of John Lennon’s late arrival, they did one show of 35-40 minutes. At the end, Eddie Tattersall presented Paul McCartney with a birthday cake to celebrate his 21st birthday which was on June 18. Everyone was still screaming when the curtains were pulled.” [Barrie Herbert, Guitarist in The Fabulous Fortunes, South Wales Argus, 18th June 2013]
The Beatles photographed on 22nd June 1963 at the Town Hall, Abergavenny, Wales. In the bottom photo Paul, Ringo and George are photographed with The Fabulous Fortunes, who are left to right, Barrie Herbert, Mike Thompson, Mike Davies and Dave Lucas.
