Brian Epstein Memorial

Brian Epstein's last year of life hasn't been easy: his bread and butter (The Beatles) had quit touring and became a studio band, so his arrangements became less. His other acts (Billy J. Kramer and The Dakotas, Cilla Black, Gerry and the Pacemakers) have either moved on or didn't meet the success as The Beatles and hardly went anywhere else. His personal life was rather in shambles with his homosexuality and the sign of the times not mixing well, and the death of his father. There's been mixed accounts on whether or not Brian was suicidal. I do believe Brian had hit some bumps, and he was suffering from depression, usually signs of suicide.... I really honestly don't know as I never met him, but I don't think Brian was going to give up on life like that. There's a sense of optimism, Brian did plan to meet up with The Beatles to see the Maharishi, he had plans. It may have been a misuse of medication, took extra too many, and lost his life in consequences. Either way, he died. The Beatles lost their manager and became vulnerable for business vipers wanting to get in on their magic, like Allan Klein who managed to sway John, George, and Ringo while Paul opted his in-laws (which wasn't a good look with favoritism and biased I'm sure John, George, and Ringo felt if they had settled on Lee and John Eastman). Their Apple business was also a mess... I'm sure if Brian had lived, Apple would've been better in organization. The Beatles were heartbroken, they were in Wales with the Maharishi, who pretty much used this opportunity to exploit Brian's death and use himself as the one to take care of a vulnerable band while offering his comfort words and wisdom. They returned to London and visited Brian's mother, Queenie, at his home in Chapel Street on August 29th.

"Queenie was sitting in the drawing room and the Beatles came in and I think Cynthia went up and gave her a red rose."

Joanne Petersen, Brian's Personal Assistant

With chauffeur Les Anthony while attending Brian's Memorial

On the same day, earlier time, John and Cynthia attended the London Motor Show and bought a Iso Rivolta, later that evening they attended Brian's Memorial on October 17, 1967. Apparently, Yoko was after John to sponsor her art exhibitions, annoying John... So, to do some damage control, John took Cynthia out that day. I would say at this point in their marriage, it was a struggle. It was two lives living separately under the same roof. Yet neither were ready to throw in the towel. 

"Getting John to underwrite her show was a huge coup and there was no way on earth that Yoko was going to keep it to herself. Triumphantly, she instantly sent out a press release announcing that she and John were holding an art exhibition. The white catalogue stated, Half a Wind: by Yoko Ono and John Lennon. John was very annoyed. Had Robert Frasser not been in jail he would have said, 'I told you so.' All John could do to retaliate was to solicitiously escort Cynthia to Brian's memorial service on October 17 and then very quickly publicly hold her hand at the Earls' Court Motor Show a few days later."

Tony Bramwell

(a few days later? The Motor Show happened the same day at the memorial!) 

When Brian died on August 27, 1967, John and Cynthia clung together while grieving. Brian was everything for John and Cynthia: he was Best Man at their wedding - which Brian arranged! And Godfather of Julian. Brian loaned his apartment for them to begin their married life, and introduced the ways of high class society and fine dining. There was a funeral on August 29, 1967 in Liverpool, but The Beatles didn't attend as it was for family and limited friends only. The Memorial was arranged for everyone to attend to remember Brian: The Beatles with Cynthia, Maureen Starkey, and Pattie Boyd, including George's parents, Neil Aspinall, and Mal Evans, the members of The Fourmost, Gerry and Pauline Marsden, Billy J. Kramer, Cilla Black and her husband Bobby Willis. The memorial was held at New London Synagogue near Abbey Road Studios. It started at 6 PMand officiated by Rabbi Louis Jacobs. Paul McCartney accompanied with John and Cynthia (Jane Asher did not attend) but left with George and Pattie afterwards. 

I don't know if there was a gathering afterwards, but I am sure there was. 

Most chronological books have the memorial on the 17th and the motor show the same day as How I Won the War premiere on the 18th, the following day. However, based on the clothes both John and Cynthia were wearing that day at both the motor show and the memorial were the same. I can't really see them wearing the exact same clothes the very next day unless they spent the night out and never changed until the premiere? That's the only logical conclusion but I very highly doubt it.