#22jun1964

"Getting through the crowd was really hard because the police had to take us through and girls were spitting and obviously there was anger that we were getting through and they couldn't. Then we were just sitting in their bedrooms and drinking and talking. And they all came in to see me as they came out of having had a shower.

"He [John] just kissed me and said 'hello, love' straight away. He spoke of seeing my sister and about how Aunt Mimi was getting on. Because Aunt Mimi at that stage had been here with my parents for a week nearly.

"Just holding onto the memories. It's been good to share with other relatives and remember those who aren't here with us as well. Just remember the really good times about it and that the music still goes on and on."

[Lynda Mathews]

John meets his second cousin, Lynda Mathews from Levin, New Zealand for the first time on 23rd June 1964.

“Cham the Man (former Kiwi radio disc jockey Nev Chamberlain) led the four of us down the side of the Wellington Town Hall to a door next to the stage. We were the winners of Cham's "Meet The Beatles" contest. 

“In a small room, the Beatles were sitting around a dining table in white shirt-sleeves. They were having a between-the-shows snack. There was fruit and Coke.

“A slim guard stood inside the door while a lady came in with a watermelon on a tray. It was made up to look like a beetle.

“We chatted and they autographed. I asked John (Lennon) what would he do after the music finished. He said "write poetry".

“I asked Ringo (Starr), how many drumsticks he had. He replied "one".

“John kept his sunglasses on throughout our time with The Beatles.

“Their accents were broad. They joked among themselves as a photographer kept shooting.

“Then it was time to go, and take our seats for the second show, close to the front row.”

[Chris Watson, NZHerald.co.nz, 30th Dec 2016]

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