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Cynthia and Julian in Liverpool

Photographed by David Birch

Near the end of Cynthia's pregnancy, John was hardly home. He was on tour and his next break was for a few weeks at the end of April. John was calling home more frequent- maybe receiving more money now that The Beatles’ debut album Please Please Me was released and earning money from touring. Cynthia wasn't too sure on her due date; today we have more high technology than it was like in 1963. She was originally due in March but no baby despite having a few false labor. On April 6th, Cynthia went out shopping with Phyllis Mackenzie on Penny Lane. John was in Buxton, near Sheffield, about an hour and a half away from Liverpool- probably the closest he was to Cynthia during Julian's birth and was due to travel deep down south of England to Portsmouth the following day (the 7th). Now, remember, this was in 1963. The public did not know John was married, much less had a baby on the way. Everything was tip-top strict tight on exact schedule and John couldn't just say, “Bye! Off to be there for my wife!” plus not with Brian Epstein there tapping his watch and ordering the boys to go on stage for show time. There were also no cell phones, and even for a simple phone call, it was not cheap. I think things got somewhat looser in the 1970s or so where the father can be there for the birth of his child when rearranging schedule. But in showbusiness, the show must go on. In 1963, John certainly did not have that power nor did he had a say-so as he did in 1975.

“It was a bright Saturday early in April 1963 and Phyl wanted to go shopping. I was feeling a little strange as if something might happen, but the doctor had told me I probably had another 2 weeks to go so I thought it would be all right. Anyway, we took the bus to Penny Lane- which was a suburban center lined with small shops and the odd boutique as we called them then. We mooched about looking at baby clothes and giggling over the fashion garments that were impossibly small for me in my pregnant state. Phyl was just trying on a pair of shoes when I started getting these terrible stomach pains. They went off quite quickly but a few minutes later, there they were again. 'Phyl, I think we’d better get back to Mimi's,’ I said when I could catch my breath. 'I think something might be happening.’ Back in my room, we didn't know what to do for the best. The pains would go off for a while and then when I least expected it they’d come back. 'I think I’d better stay the night,’ Phyl said kindly. 'Just in case.’ The evening passed and we went to bed but by 2 in the morning the pains were back with vengeance. By now it was unbearable. 'You’ll have to phone an ambulance, Phyl,’ I gasped. Phyl began to panic. She was running around in her nightie, hair full of rollers, looking for the phone. 'What’s the number? What’s the number?” she called, fingers scrabbling with the dial. 'Oh, yes, 999.’ I heard her spelling out Mimi's address and soon afterwards the ambulance arrived. I picked up my pre-packed bag, Phyl dragged on her dressing gown and off we went in the ambulance without a glimpse of Mimi the whole time. She didn't emerge from upstairs. Perhaps she slept through the whole thing. At the hospital I was put in a wheelchair and whisked off to the maternity ward but Phyl was stopped at the door.”

Cynthia, 1994

Phyllis couldn't get back to Mimi's from the ambulance so she walked, trying to hitch a ride from a taxi. One stopped and allowed her to owe him fare to take her to Mimi's and went to bed until she heard Mimi vacuuming outside the door- a thing she would do to Cynthia to wake up, even on weekends, at 7 AM. Phyllis gathered her belongings and went back home, maybe filled Mimi in on what happened and where Cynthia was.

Cynthia in labor at Sefton General Hospital surrounded by patients and visitors in Liverpool

Artwork by Cynthia

“Up in the ward I’d embarked on a long, long labor. I was put next to another girl who was also having a difficult time. We were both given gas and air which made me groggy but caused her to flip completely. Suddenly, I heard her say, 'I’m going home to Mother.’ There was a rustling from her bed. 'I can't stand it,’ she added, 'I’m going…’ and then this bulky thing in a white nightie rushed past me and disappeared down the ward. I think they had quite a job getting her back.”

Cynthia, 1994

Before the mysterious girl left, she was unmarried while Cynthia was married but had to pretend to everyone that she wasn't. They both were getting dirty looks from other married patients and staff of nurses and doctors, maybe the janitor too. In time speaking, Cynthia was in regular intense labor pains from April 7th at 2 AM until she gave birth by 6 AM on April 8th, so in total around 28 hours of labor. It may have felt forever, I bet! As for the girl, a part of me wonders what happened to her? Where did she end up having her baby? Was it a boy or a girl? I guess we will never know!

“Julian was finally born at 6 AM on Monday, April 8. It was a harsh experience. By then I was so exhausted. I didn't think I could go on. 'If you don't push harder, your baby will die,’ they told me brutally. I did the best I could but Julian finally came into the world with the aid of forceps. When Julian finally arrived I was besotted. John was on tour but managed a fleeting visit on the third day. He was 6 lbs 8 oz and absolutely gorgeous. I was completely besotted. I couldn't get over the size of his little hands. Such miniature perfection was breathtaking. The only minor blemish was a mole on his head with hair growing out of it. Being a typical first time mum, I was embarrassed by this. I kept him in bonnets for a long time until his hair grew and covered it completely.”

Cynthia, 1994

This was the only time Cynthia mentioned that forceps were used in her HELLO! magazine special but nothing in her two books or any interviews or book participation.

“After 3 days on gas and air I was in a terrible state. I remember a nurse saying with a great Scouse urgency at the very end: 'If you don't push now, girl, he’s going to be dead.’ Not very nice, but it worked! It all seems such a lifetime away now, but it was worth every ache, groan, and anguish.”

Cynthia, 1999

“I was something like 3 days in hospital before Julian arrived and then he had jaundice, the umbilical cord was around his neck, and he had a very large mole on his head. He had to be left alone for 24 hours; I couldn't touch him. I was petrified about all these things. But I was scared more than anything about the birthmark, the mole. Knowing John's horror of deformities, I was absolutely panic-stricken about what John's reaction would be. When John came in, I decided not to hide it. I said: 'Oh he’s beautiful, wonderful, John, but he has this birthmark on his head.’ John replied, 'Oh it doesn't matter. His hair will grow over that.’ I was still bothered because I wanted the perfect child for John, but he couldn't have cared less. He was just thrilled, the typical father.”

Cynthia, 1985

The Beatles around the time John's first born son Julian was born

Three days? Many sources say that Cynthia went into the hospital by April 6th, which would make 2 days. Math time: Julian was born April 8… 8 - 3 = 5. So, technically speaking, Cynthia went shopping on April 4th, went into the hospital in the early morning hours on April 5th, spent the remaining 5th, then 6th and 7th in labor, in and out of consciousness due to receiving gas and air before giving birth in the morning of the 8th. Does that sound right to you? Or, to give the sources of April 6th a benefit of the doubt, Cynthia was groggy due to the gas and I am positive that being in labor before giving birth felt like eternity so it may have affected her mind. Of course, Cynthia must have documents of her hospital bill the provides the date she was admitted so, of course, she would know better than the sources. Mimi called Sefton General Hospital to check on Cynthia and the baby's arrival and visited once. John was still calling Mimi for updates and maybe called the hospital himself. But Mimi was the one who told John that his son was born; he was very happy but he couldn't come home right away. On April 8th, John was in Leyton with the Beatles and on the 9th, he was in London for a concert, and doing TV and radio appearances. It wasn't until the 12th that John was in Liverpool (or very late on the 11th after being in Middletown, which is close to Liverpool) due to appear at the Cavern. That morning, on the 12th, John dressed in a disguise and went to the hospital to see his son for the very first time. Before John's arrival, Cynthia was moved to a private room (thanks to Brian) but it had a window to see through. Some did recognize John in his disguise.

“A few did recognize me. 'There’s one of them,’ I heard someone shout, and I had to run for it.”

John, 1968

“John and Cynthia had stayed at Mendips throughout the winter and spring in their newly created ground floor flat. Julian was born 8 April 1963 in Sefton General Hospital where Jackie and I were both born. The birth was extremely arduous and Cynthia was exhausted. Some of the fans have heard about the baby, so she had to be moved to a private ward. Brian wanted the birth, like the wedding, to be a low-key affair. John couldn't come for a few days, as he was touring in the south of England, but when he did he was thrilled with John Charles Julian, to be known as Julian, for our mother. He picked him up, saying, 'Who’s going to be a famous little rocker like his Dad?’ and, 'He’s bloody marvelous, Cynthia!’ We all went round to Mendips to see the new arrival, the day that Cynthia arrived back from the hospital. None of us children had been to the hospital to see the latest member of the family. Mimi went, but no one else. So this was the first time that Jackie and I had seen our nephew.”

Julia Baird

Let's hold off on Cynthia and Julian’s homecoming for the moment. My mind is still in the hospital part.

Julian and John in the backyard of Mendips, Liverpool around Autumn of 1963 

“It was 3 days before John was able to visit his son. He’d been phoning Mimi’s every night to see how I was and she’d given him the good news. Flowers arrived but for 3 days I had to sit there on my own watching the other dad's coming in, until the Beatles’ tour come close enough to allow John a fleeting trip to Liverpool. I understood, of course, but at times I couldn't help feeling a pang. But on the 3rd day, it was all forgotten when the ward doors burst open and in swept John, black peaked cap pulled down over one eye, leather coat flying. Everyone stared and John stared back. 'You’re going to have a private room,’ he said, giving me a hug. Then he looked at the baby and he was over the moon. He couldn't get over the fact that this tiny little creature was his son. He picked him up in awkward hands and stared down into the impassive little face. It was a miracle...Brian presented us with the most beautiful Silver Cross pram- a real classy affair in pale grey- the sort you saw nannies pushing around Hyde Park. I’d bought a carry cot and a crib, Mum had knotted endless woolies, and Mimi had contributed the non-woolen outfits. So, despite his unplanned start, Julian arrived well provided for. A week after his birth, I took him home to learn how to be a mother and John went on holiday to Spain.”

Cynthia, 1994

John was home from the 12th (when he first saw Julian) until the 15th when the tour resumed and ended on the 27th when John went to Spain with Brian. According to Julia, John was home in Mendips when Cynthia and Julian arrived home by taxi. I guess it didn't occur to anybody for John to take them home, or maybe it did? John was already recognized at the hospital while visiting, so taking them home would have been much more suspicious. Also, John couldn't drive. If John saw Julian the 12th, then Cynthia may have been released by the 13th or maybe even the 14th. I recall her saying she was there for about a week.

“John was there, holding Julian, and so was Nanny. It was a welcome the baby gathering. When we arrived, they were all standing in a group by the morning room window, peering at him from this angle and that side. They said they could see John and Cyn in this sleeping bundle. He was the next new thing!”

Julia Baird

“I remember Cynthia coming home from the hospital and going into Mimi's morning room. Mater and Stan were there. We were all gawking at this baby. He was called John Charles Julian Lennon and he had a birthmark on his head. Of course it's covered by hair now, so perhaps I shouldn't say. When a child is born you can see a parent in them and to me he looked very like Cynthia.”

Julia Baird, 1986

“He was brought home immediately to Mendips, where we all gathered. My teenage recollection is that he squawked and never stopped crying, but he was the baby who brought all the family together.”

Julia Baird, 1998