Family Road Trip

June 22 - July 2, 1969

Kyoko, Yoko, Julian, and John relaxing in the yard of Corbett Arms Hotel in Tywyn, Wales on June 23, 1969

Since I've been referencing the Scotland car crash a lot lately in recent posts, might as well make a post about it!

One day at Tittenhurst Park, with Julian and Kyoko visiting over the weekend, John and Yoko spontaneously decided to take a family road trip up to Liverpool and Scotland. The plan was to visit family members and for John to show his new wife and children where he grew up. John used to go to Scotland as a child during school holidays with the Stanley family getting together. Fun, right? Well, there's a big mistake in John's idea: he never told Cynthia about it. I don't know if Tony (Kyoko's father) knew, but certainly not Cynthia. We'll get to more of her part later on. Another mistake: letting John, a known terrible driver, to drive. He had a chauffeur, Les Anthony, but John probably had an enthusiasm to be a normal family man to take his wife and children on a road trip. I think John meant well, and it's not often Julian and John went out on vacations. If Cynthia had known, I'm sure she would have approved but would insist Yoko to drive instead. Did Yoko ever drove? I never thought much of that, to be honest. I don't think I have ever seen Yoko behind the wheel? Anyway, it sounds to me that John had Julian for a week over the Summer (it could've meant to be a longer visit if John hadn't crashed). Julian must have arrived at Tittenhurst Park either on a Friday evening of June 20th or Saturday morning of June 21st as the family hit the road on June 22nd. I should also point out that Yoko was pregnant with their second child (their first pregnancy ended in a miscarriage); not sure how far along but I recall that John and Yoko were planning to name the baby (boy or girl) Amsterdam. Okay, so the baby may have conceived during John and Yoko's first Bed In peace protest in late March of 1969 in Amsterdam (their second one in Montreal was in late May, early June with Kyoko with them; they came home in time for Julian's visit)... so, Yoko was approximately three months pregnant. 

John, Yoko, Julian, and Kyoko on the driveway of Aunt Harrie and Uncle Norman's home in Liverpool on June 26, 1969

John, Yoko, Julian, and Kyoko started off their journey on June 22, 1969 from Ascot. Their first stop was Tywyn, Wales which was about a four and a half hours of driving. They stayed at the Corbett Arms Hotel overnight; from what I read, they had hotel reservations. After relaxing, resting, and eating, the family continued up to Liverpool, about two and a half hours of driving on June 23rd. They first visited John's Aunt Nanny in Rock Ferry to spend the night before going to Aunt Harrie in Woolton. Nanny attempt to feed them a meal but John and Yoko declined due to their macrobiotic diet. However, Nanny's son Mike's girlfriend had a bag of jelly beans- John indulged a handful of few until Yoko told him off. A similar thing happened at Harrie's house: she thought John looked incredibly thin and made them a dinner of roast leg of lamb, mint sauce, roast potatoes, vegetables, and apple pie with cream pudding. But Yoko told Harrie that she and John don't eat that and proceeded to cook their macrobiotic meal of steamed vegetables with Tamari sauce and brown rice. Both Nanny and Harrie were put off by Yoko; John's latest antics of Bed Ins with Yoko wasn't doing well by them; it wasn't a "pro-Cynthia, anti-Yoko" situation, just two completely different worlds collision. Yoko talked a lot about philosophy of Zen to Uncle Norman. I'm pretty sure there was tension in both houses. John's sister Julia was living in Belfast, Ireland, newly married and recently welcomed her first child; he called her up from Harrie's house and they caught up. 

John, Yoko, Julian, and Kyoko visiting Holbrook Special School on June 26, 1969 in Liverpool

While in Liverpool, John showed Yoko and their children the houses he lived in, where his mother lived in, going to Woolton, Penny Lane, probably driving by the Cavern as welJulianrie did note to Julia that John and Yoko seemed very much in love: sitting on the sofa, holding hands, and talking for hours, perhaps reminiscent of when John did that with Cynthia a decade ago. After John, Yoko, and the kids left, Yoko left behind two blouses that Harrie saved for Julia when she came by months later to introduce her baby son to the family; the blouses didn't fit Julia, she didn't realize Yoko was petite. They were in Liverpool for about three days. The day of their departure for Scotland, John, Yoko, Julian, and Kyoko visited Holbrook Special School, meeting with schoolchildren and facility. During this visit, John decided to change the Mini Cooper he was driving to his Leyland Austin Maxi, which Les Anthony drove up to deliver and brought the Mini Cooper back home in Ascot. After the school visit, the family drove up almost 5 hours to Edinburgh, Scotland where Julian and Kyoko got matching Scottish kilts.

John, Yoko, Julian, and Kyoko in Edinburgh, Scotland.

Between the dates of June 27th until the morning of July 1st, the family drove around Scotland: Edinburgh, Durness (where Aunt Mater lived), and Tongue Village. They stayed with Mater, where a similar thing happened at Harrie's: Mater made dinner but John and Yoko declined. Once again, Yoko made their macrobiotic meal. Although this time around, Mater didn't hold back. She said exactly what was on her mind. At one point, John told Mater that he was going to take Julian away from Cynthia. Why? Probably due to Kyoko's custody fight that wasn't settled in Yoko's divorce, John got inspired to do the same. Mater was furious! She defended Cynthia, John had no reason to take Julian away from his mother, and told John to get that idea out of his mind. By the morning of July 1st, John couldn't take it. Angrily, John and Yoko left with the children in tow. The weather wasn't all that great and when John spotted a tourist driving pass him, John panicked, lost control of the car that ended up in a ditch. Up to that point, John was actually doing a good job behind the wheel without any mishaps. I just hope he didn't drive in the dark! Anyway, John, Yoko, and Kyoko were unconscious. Julian managed to get out of the wreck and waited on the roadside for help. Luckily a passerby saw Julian and the car accident and called for help. They were all taken to Lawson Memorial Hospital in Golspie: John had a bad cut on his face that received 17 stitches. Yoko injured her back and also had a cut on her face, receiving 14 stitches. Kyoko had a small cut on her face, getting 4 stitches. Julian had no injuries and was treated for shock. He was also able to be released from the hospital. Mater heard about the accident and went to pick up Julian. Despite being pissed off at his Aunt, John granted permission for Julian to be with Mater. 

"He used to have an Aunt in Glasgow, which we used to visit. Now I can't remember her name for the life of me, really can't. We used to go up there and she used to cook homemade flapjacks and all kinds of things. That was when we had the accident. Well, I don't know where we were going - no idea. We were probably already there, I think we'd seen her already and we'd been down to the local town and all bought kilts, respective kilts for respective names, I guess, I don't know. The actual accident, all I remember is sitting in the backseat with Yoko's daughter Kyoko, and driving down a long and winding road, the sun was just about setting. I don't recall how it happened - it felt like possibly we were going around the corner a wee bit too fast but I'm not sure, I couldn't say. The next thing I remember is the car - actually opening my eyes in the car, still picture it being upside down on its side. It's funny, because only just a couple of seconds before that had I decided to kneel on the floor behind Yoko - you know where you put your feet just behind the seat. So I crunch up there to think I was going to try and go to sleep, I think that's what I was doing. When I actually woke up, Dad was unconscious, blood everywhere. Yoko was out. Kyoko - I don't even recall seeing her in the car, she was there. I crawled out of the car and got up onto the road. There was a milestone there, some kind of information stone. Before that, I couldn't raise life out of anybody, you know, there was no sign of life, so I didn't know what to do. Basically I just sort of sat on the milestone and cried, because we were in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the mountains. I was fine, didn't have a cut, nothing. Well I sat on the milestone and eventually some people drove by and they saw what happened obviously. I remember the ambulance arriving. I remember sitting in the back of the ambulance with purple windows, going with the siren on. I was lying down on the left hand side and the ambulance was just going as fast as they possibly could. The next thing I remember is waking up with pajamas on with a bowl of cornflakes in my hands and directly in front of me was Dad, with a big bandage and channel thickens. Yoko was behind the screen. I was allowed to get up and walk - I actually went over to see what happened to Yoko. She just had this incredible dent in her forehead which was scary as hell. I recall Kyoko being on the side, something bad had happened to her. They really had to do some surgery to stitch some of her face. Then I remember my Mum arriving, driving up there because I just told Mum that I was going to Tittenhurst for the weekend and the next thing she hears on the radio is that Dad's in a car accident with his wife and son, etc. I just remember helping into the car that was it, went to London."

Julian 

John, Yoko, Kyoko, and Peter Brown at Inverness Airport in Ireland after being discharged from the hospital on July 6, 1969. Julian already left with Cynthia a few days before.

Meanwhile, in London, Cynthia had no clue that her ex husband took their son up to Liverpool and Scotland. She found out about the car crash from the television news. Cynthia was livid! I don't blame her at all. John didn't tell her, nor did he tell her through third party (usually Peter Brown), about the family trip. Cynthia immediately embark on her own adventure to bring her son home. Peter arranged Cynthia for a flight to Edinburgh... only except Cynthia and Peter realized too late that they were on the wrong flight, to Belfast, Ireland! Because of the urgency and anxiety, they didn't realize the mistake until after the fact. So, at the airport in Belfast, they caught the flight to Edinburgh, arriving the following day, July 2nd. Cynthia and Peter then took a long taxi ride to Golspie, arriving at the hospital. The hospital informed her that Julian wasn't hurt and was released in Mater's care. Meanwhile, John and Yoko refused to see Cynthia; instead John passed a note to her regarding Yoko having trouble with Julian's behavior. That pissed off Cynthia (I already written about that), but the most important thing to know was his condition and whereabouts. Cynthia called Mater, who confirmed Julian was with her. Cynthia went there, another long drive in the taxi for 50 miles, to find Julian tucked in a blanket drinking hot chocolate. Mater unloaded on Cynthia with these tales of Yoko's macrobiotic diet and John's plan to take Julian away from her. Julian and Cynthia spent the night at Mater's before flying back to London the following day. Cynthia was still pissed off at John but realized nothing was going to change. Peter stayed with John, Yoko, and Kyoko to take them home to London after getting discharged from the hospital. I'm not sure how long after, but the stress of the accident and the injuries Yoko got caused a miscarriage. When John returned to The Beatles to record Abbey Road, John got Yoko a bed to rest on and a microphone hanging for her to make her input, much to the baffled dismay from his band mates. 

Nest Egg House War

"But it's not the house as a building that concerns us, it's what it symbolises. Had it ever been my mother's home, then of course we'd care about its bricks and mortar. But it was bought for us really as a nest egg, as security and our inheritance. It represents what John wanted to do for us in securing our future." 

Julia Baird, 1998

Uncle Norman, cousins Michael and David with sisters Julia and Jacqui, along with Aunts Mater, Harrie and Mimi sitting in front as they gather to attend the Liverpool premiere of A Hard Day's Night on July 10, 1964

After hearing about Bobby Dykins' death, John and Cynthia thought about Julia and Jacqui's future. Julia was about 18, 19 years old and going to college while Jacqui was 16. After their father's death, they decided to get a house intended for Julia and Jacqui to keep after their Aunt Harriet and Uncle Norman Birch pass away. Cynthia took Harrie and Norman house hunting in Liverpool in 1966. 

"Aunt Harriet and Uncle Norman - the girls' guardians - chose a brand new, detached house near Strawberry Fields."

Cynthia, 1998

"I think John and I were naive. Had we thought more about it when the money poured in, we would probably have done things differently for Julia and Jackie, and set up a trust

fund. It's strange to look back and think that I was a millionairess for a short time,

and if I'd known more about money I could have made so many people happy. But because our mentality was very simple in terms of finance, John and I thought that house would always represent security. We could see that the girls, having lost both parents were being pushed from pillar to post, and doing something for them was just part and parcel of our nature. The idea of the house was that they'd have something they could hold onto that was theirs, considering everything else they'd lost."

Cynthia, 1998

Harriet died in December of 1972 after being ill for some years. Norman died on October of 1991 after being hit by a car. After some weeks, lawyers asked his son David to clean and move his parents' possessions out of the house. In December of 1991, Mimi passed away; during her funeral gathering, Cynthia approached Yoko about the house Harrie and Norman lived in was meant to be for Julia and Jacqui and Mimi's home was intended for the whole family as a vacation house. After listening, Yoko walked away without a word. Unknown to Cynthia, Julia, and Jacqui (and everyone else), Yoko already sold Mimi's house. It was soon knocked down and a new house was built. Although that was bad enough, then came the worst: Harrie and Norman's house. By early 1995, David reached out to Julia that the Liverpool Council contacted David to demand council tax over his parents' home; Liverpool Council thought the house belonged to David as next of kin while David (and everyone else in the family) thought as it was under John's name, it belonged to Yoko. The Liverpool Council wanted four years worth of tax owe and were now threatening court if not paid in full. Julia went to Liverpool to get to the bottom of this situation and went to the house, it looked neglected. Apparently, after talking to the neighbors, Julia discovered that British Telecom couldn't trace the ownership when the tree on the property began to interfere the neighborhood wiring system of telephone and cable. She soon discovered that Yoko sold the house to The Salvation Army since November 2, 1993. 

"It's not the fault of the Salvation Army or the couple now living there that we've lost it. But what Strawberry Fields signified to John, when he wrote his song about it, was the orphanage that used to stand there. John played there; my sister's best friend came from there. It was part of our childhood and John's. But I feel that Yoko has taken over the mantle of Strawberry Fields without any thought for John's first life, first family and the orphans - Jackie and me - the house there should have gone to." 

Julia Baird, 1998

"I know her to be a manipulative in many ways. You know, 'You go and bake the bread, I'll take care of business.' And it was more than the business. There was houses Dad and Mum, when they were together, had bought for Julia, his half sister and their family. She and their family lived there the whole lifetime, you know. And when Dad passed away, Yoko proceeded to take the house from under their feet, basically"

Julian 1999

Cynthia and Julia at Cynthia's home in Normandy, France during Julia’s weekend visit and joint interview for UK’s HELLO! magazine in 1998.

Julia wanted more answers and turned to Yoko. The first conversation didn't go well, at all: Yoko accused Julia of not knowing John hardly at all. They shouted at each other. Then, after deep breaths, Julia called Yoko again: this time around Yoko asked for proof of John wanting Julia and Jacqui to inherit the house. There were letters John wrote to Aunt Mater and to herself, but Julia didn't have Mater's and she burned hers when she moved... that astounded Yoko... nobody burns John's letters! But that was Julia's habit, and, to her, John was her brother, not a celebrity. On that note, Julia and Yoko agreed that they were too angry to continue on. The following week, Yoko and Julia spoke again, but, again, the conversation went nowhere. That same week, Yoko told Julia's cousin Michael (who keeps contact with Yoko and was the one who helped give Julia access) that Julia was never to call her again. 

"That house would be all we had left of John - but now it's gone. We recently discovered

that Yoko had given it to the Salvation Army, which really hurts, although it's gone to a

charity. We know that the house was part of John's estate, so legally - and I can't stress

this point enough - it was Yoko's to do as she liked with. Morally however, we feel the

house was ours - it was John's expression of his concern and, as I wrote to Yoko, of

love for our mother and through her for us. I'd like Yoko to acknowledge his intent." 

Julia Baird, 1998

"We talked and we argued but finally I was told never to darken her phone again. Paul too spoke to her on our behalf and following his call, Jackie, I and three of our cousins were sent 50,000 dollars - £6,300 apiece - on the 15th anniversary of his death, with a message saying that she hoped we would remember to think kindly of him. As if we needed reminding! We accepted the money as a token on John's anniversary, but as I told Yoko, it didn't solve the problem of the house. It's only fair to say that Jackie and I have been told that if.we asked Yoko for money completely independently of that issue, she would consider it out of her own pocket. She misunderstands - we just want recognition of what John intended for us." 

Julia Baird, 1998

Cynthia and Julia at Cynthia's home in Normandy, France during Julia’s weekend visit and joint interview for UK’s HELLO! magazine in 1998.

After Aunt Nanny's death in 1997, Julia couldn't stop thinking about the house, much to Michael's annoyance. It wasn't about the money; it's about love. John was looking after his sisters. Julia knew Michael had a point to let the house go and move on; so, in February of 1998, Julia reached out to Yoko once more by sending her a package. With help from cousin Stan, Cynthia, and a copy of a letter John wrote to Mater (that was eventually found), as well as copies of letters Yoko's own lawyers sent to Norman, whatever proof Julia could get a hold of to prove that John wanted the house to be given to Julia and Jacqui. She heard nothing. Julia tried again, nothing. The third try turned put to be slightly the charm as it finally got Yoko's attention. Her lawyer got in touch: he told Julia that the house was legally Yoko's to do as she pleased. If Julia and Jacqui needed help of financially, Yoko might (might???) help... but this wasn't about the money. Julia wanted the house as a symbolic valuable. There was nothing more Julia could do, so she let it go and kept the feeling that John wanted to look after his sisters.

"I've always believed it was up to me to bring up my own children. Neither Jackie nor I received any wealth from John's estate, though we are the poorest family members. Nor did we ever seek it. When I spoke to John during his years in America he once asked me what I wanted from him and what I told him was 'contact'. I just wanted us to talk. That was the main thing. Naively, I didn't think of the house as an issue because I felt that we all understood the links it represented between John, our mother, Jackie and me. It wouldn't have occurred to me to spell that out, if only because John himself did so - writing to his aunt Elizabeth that he regarded the house as his contribution to looking after us. Also, of course, I assumed we had so much time, the rest of our lives, to sort things out. We couldn't forsee that John would be lost to us as well. Now, the loss of the house is.hard to forget because it seems such an injustice. To me that house is a concrete issue that represents deep abstract emotions." 

Julia Baird, 1998

"John couldn't have had more support from any family or friends that he had in those early days. They were utterly devoted to him on a human level quite regardless of whether he was a pop star of wildly famous in a superficial industry. That devotion has never changed and I feel his first family should be remembered. The Beatles' history is going to go on for generations, and it's got to be right - with both sides of the stories, before and after his life with Yoko Ono, upheld. I don't think it inevitable that two successive families should be at odds. Lots of people have first and second marriages, yet retain a modicum of humility and understanding for the circumstances. But when John went to America it was, for a long while, as if this English part of his life was ignored. That, I think was even worse for Julia and Jackie than for me. My marriage broke up. But those two girls were - are - John's blood and John's family. Regarding the house bought for them, I'd like to see their position sorted out. It represents a part of their life that was very important and very tragic for them and it's as if, with the bricks and mortar, even that past has been denied them." 

Cynthia, 1998 

"I don't want my life to be governed by a sense of damage. I see the house as an issue but I'm not going to fight over it forever. I mean to carry on teaching and visiting India - I'm addicted to that country. I'm 51 now, and I'm at a turning point. The children have grown up and I'm far more sure of myself than ever I was. Life is a gift I love it and it's up to me to use it as best I can." 

Julia Baird, 1998

Letter During Divorce Proceedings

Written by John to his Aunt Harriet and Uncle Norman Birch after his October 18th arrest of drug possession and before his November 8th divorce. He mentioned that he had set up Julian's trust fund a few years prior. Kinda interesting that John knew Julian was doing "o.k." since he has barely seen his son since leaving Weybridge. I did cringe a little on John mentioning he couldn't wait for his divorce to be final. 

Belated Honeymoon in Paris

Paris, France

September 16, 1963 - October 2, 1963

John in Paris, September of 1961

Photographed by Paul McCartney

In September of 1963, the Beatles had two weeks off between tours and recording. Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr opted to go to Greece with their girlfriends, Jane Asher and Maureen Cox. George Harrison went to Benton, Illinois with his brother Peter to visit their sister Louise. As for John? He decided that it was now time to take Cynthia somewhere on their belated honeymoon. They couldn't do it after they got married: John was on tour. They couldn't do it after Julian's birth: Cynthia was still recovering from birth and John used that break to go to Spain with his manager. September seemed like the right time: Julian was now on the bottle, Cynthia was fine, so honeymoon was a perfect time to go. Cynthia arranged for Julian to be with Aunt Harrie and his young Aunts, Julia and Jacqui. Nevermind Aunt Mimi… bet she was happy to have the house to herself while everyone was away. Lillian was still in Canada.

On the day of their departure, a very excited Cynthia came down with probable food poisoning and had the taxi cab driver pull over countless times. So much so that John was at the verge of cancellation. But Cynthia said No! We are going, end of story. I bet she would still go if she had been in a coma. She was not going to let this opportunity to be with her husband slip through her fingers! By the time she got on the plane and in Paris, Cynthia was fine. John and Cynthia stayed at George V Hotel. Their room was beautiful, Cynthia felt out of place… she felt it was too fancy for what she was used to. Maybe felt like she might break something expensive. She was used to small cramped up spaces that were dark and weary, rather than bright spacious room with expensive antiques. It was certainly a Wow factor, impressive and exciting. She was finally exposed to John's growing wealth. John wanted to spoil his wife. He had been to Paris an over a year before during his 21st birthday and went with Paul. I guess Paris impressed John as well: not only Cynthia but he also took Yoko Ono there for their own honeymoon in 1969. I wouldn't be surprised if John had picked Paris to live rather than New York if it wasn't for Yoko and her love for the city.

Cynthia wearing her white beret and coat John bought her in Paris during their honeymoon in New York City on February 7, 1964

John took Cynthia to the sights: the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, Le Arc de Triomphe, the Louvre, and walked along the embankment. He bought himself a movie camera (where are those home movies?) and bought Cynthia a white beret, a gray coat, a leather skirt, and Chanel No 5. among other things.

John, Cynthia, Astrid, and Astrid's friend in Astrid's hotel bed after a night of drinking in Paris, September of 1963.

Artwork by Cynthia

About mid-way into their time in Paris, John and Cynthia arrived back to their hotel  after sightseeing and a receptionist handed them a note. It was from Astrid Kirchherr. She somehow heard that John and Cynthia were in Paris… how did she find out? The only culprit I can think of is Jürgen Vollmer. Jürgen was a Hamburg friend who moved to Paris; during John and Paul's trip to Paris, they met up together and he cut John and Paul's hair into the 'Beatle’ hairdo. John and Cynthia could have met up with Jürgen and he told Astrid when she also saw him (or by phone?). Astrid was also in Paris for a quick holiday with a girl pal. She suggested to meet up and left her number. They immediately went to their room to call and that night went out until the wee hours and drank. Then the happy foursome went to Astrid and the girl’s hotel room and drank some more- yeah… John and Cynthia weren't going to go anywhere in their state of mind; they were so drunk. They all piled into Astrid and the girl's single bed and slept it off.

At some point during the trip, Brian Epstein also joined in… uninvited. Why Brian decided to go to Paris and crash John and Cynthia's honeymoon is a mystery. I wouldn't be surprised if John and Cynthia weren't happy about it- I certainly wouldn't! However, that being said, Cynthia did not ever mentioned Brian being there in her two books or her HELLO! 6 installment magazine issues. Maybe he left them alone and only joined up for coffee and same air flight back to London.

John and Yoko in Paris during their honeymoon, 1969.

Same city where John took Cynthia for their own honeymoon in 1963

The only gripe I have is Cynthia's date confusion. She had the right month, but not how many days she was in Paris. In her first book, A Twist of Lennon, she wrote one week. In her 6 HELLO! magazine issues and her second book, John, Cynthia wrote 3 days. However, in every chronologically date books out there, it's said 17 days in Paris. So, that's what I am going with- 17 days of honeymooning.

Volume 2: Life with Mimi

Cynthia and John with Mimi's cat Suki in Mendips after they got married and moved back in with Mimi.

One morning in Falkner Street, Cynthia woke up to discover blood. With her brother Tony's help, she immediately went to the Doctor's who told her to stay in bed for three days to avoid a miscarriage. A scared Cynthia did as she was told but didn't tell John until he got home and she was feeling better by then. Dot had moved in to help take care of her (why didn't Cynthia ever mentioned that?) until John and Cynthia moved back to Mendips with Aunt Mimi. I don't think John and Cynthia were thrilled as was Mimi but what other option was there? I do believe Mimi was trying to help, but at the same time she would have to give up half of her house and move upstairs while John and Cynthia took over the downstairs. John had to tour and was spending a lot of time in London where all the action was taken place and Cynthia was having a difficult first few months of pregnancy while being a secretive wife. Not an easy situation at all…

“At the time that the group went to London to make the record, John hadn't seen any of the family, including Mimi, since the wedding. He found it hard to forgive Mimi's refusal to be there on his special day and kept away from Mendips. It was Cynthia who finally persuaded him that he had suffered enough losses in his life and that this was the time to forgive his family, Mimi in particular. At Cyn’s insistence, they went to see Mimi one afternoon, unannounced, about 3 months later and were surprised by the warm welcome they received. Not long before, Cyn nearly had a miscarriage while John was away, which frightened them both. Luckily her brother had been able to come round, but she was spending a lot of time alone and John was worried. When Mimi heard about the threatening miscarriage, she immediately offered them the downstairs part of Mendips. She would move upstairs. It wasn't right for Cynthia to be on her own so much. We only knew about all this when Mimi came round and told Harrie. Cyn was rhesus negative and we heard lots of dangers of that if the baby was rhesus positive and that it wasn't good for her to be on her own, with her mother being in Canada. We didn't know anything about the near miscarriage, only that Cyn wasn't very well and that John was away a lot, busy being a Beatle. I was sent to Mimi's on an errand shortly after her offer to John and Cyn. She was often frosty with me, sending me promptly on my way, but at other times she was kinder, giving me a drink and asking about school. On this occasion, she told me John and Cyn were moving in and she said she was going to the flat that day to see them to discuss arrangements. She invited me upstairs and said that she had been thinking of how to split the house. John’s small front bedroom was going to be her kitchen, and the large front bedroom into her sitting room. She would carry on sleeping in the back bedroom. They would share the upstairs bathroom and the gardens. She bought a Baby Belly cooker and put it where John's bed had been, facing the wall. She would do her washing up in the bowl with hot water from the bathroom. Mimi always had shared Mendips with the students but we all knew how much against the marriage she had been, and now of course she was offering to move out of her own kitchen and morning room, which can't have been easy. This was a major turnout and I could only think that Mimi was genuinely concerned and meant to be kind. Downstairs, John and Cyn were to have the students’ sitting room/study as their bedroom. We had rarely been allowed into that room, next to the morning room at the back of the house. I remember going round the back of the garden and seeing them lying in bed there, late in the morning, with the French windows wide open to the garden, still asleep. I brought them tea and toast in bed. It was never plain sailing, however, and it wasn't long before Mimi was criticizing Cynthia. It seemed that everything she did and said was wrong. She took them in because she loved John and wanted to help, but she soon appeared to resent it and made their lives miserable. It was just like what we experienced round the corner in The Cottage with Harrie.”

Julia Baird

“By the end of the afternoon, the decision was made and shortly afterwards my belongings were on the move again to Mimi's house. As I’d guessed, it wasn't easy. It was months before Mimi finally got round to creating her upstairs flat and, in the meantime, we got under each other's feet. When John was there Mimi was fine but when he was away she could be moody and sharp-tongued and in my over-sensitive pregnant state, I frequently retired hurt. Admittedly on good days, she helped me with my cooking and taught me to make apple pie but, on balance, it wasn't a happy arrangement.”

Cynthia, 1994

According to Cynthia's second book, John, Mimi would vacuumed at 7 AM every morning to wake Cynthia up- even on weekends! When Mimi was in a rarely good mood, Cynthia would actually note it in her diary. Whenever John would call in, Mimi would chat with him long enough until time was almost up when Mimi would finally hand over the phone for John and Cynthia could only say hi and bye… however I do know it didn't happen all the single time and Cynthia got her longer conversations on the phone. It wasn't like the communication today compared to 1962, 1963. There were no cell phones, emails. Instead there were letters (snail mail) and calls you put in the operator on the landline phone with a cord. Plus, it cost a lot for long distance during that time.

When John was home and doing some songwriting with his guitar, Mimi's rule still applied: he had to play on the porch, not indoors. John would call Cynthia to come out to listen to a potential lyric and music of a song. Since Cynthia had the proper kitchen, she had to feed the cats. Shredding away fresh fish would stink up the kitchen and make Cynthia gag… just thinking about it makes me gag! Whenever John was away, I’m certain he expected a call on whether Mimi or Cynthia killed one another.

“During my pregnancy, The Beatles were rising stars. I was watching them on television becoming famous, while I was pregnant. You know this from all the book that I was not supposed to be known or heard about. In the wisdom, or lack of wisdom, anything to do with somebody becoming famous- male- was not supposed to be married or have a girlfriend. So, I spent most of my pregnancy disguising it.”

Cynthia

As mentioned before, while dating, John would giddy up whenever Cynthia would arrive at Mendips and pretend to be all cool and suave. Now, it was Cynthia waiting for John at Mendips all giddy until he entered to be all cool and suave. Julia witnessed both times.

“When Cynthia moved into Mendips 3 years later, while they were waiting for Julian's arrival, a similar thing happened, only it was John on the bus and Cynthia in Mendips. This time, I was 15. I was chatting to Cyn in the morning room as she was putting on her lipstick, and she was making all those faces you make when trying to have luscious lips. I was staring so intently that she gave me the lipstick as a present, although it was a new one. My first lipstick! Then she brushed her long blonde hair over her shoulders, moving it this way and that. She was waiting for John. We heard the wooden gate latch click open and shut. Suddenly, Cyn, after peeping through the window to check, sat down in the armchair and leaned back, spreading her hair over her shoulders, and closed her eyes. I watched her closely, then switched my gaze to John as he walked in from the kitchen. He was mesmerized! He grunted at me and made straight for the model posing in the chair. A bizarre moment of reversal.”

Julia Baird

“I said to these students, and people nearby, that I was John's girlfriend, but I was also a student and that's the reason I gave them for wearing smocks. 'I’m an artist and I do some work here at home,’ I’d say. What they didn't realize, I hope, was that the smocks were getting bigger and bigger to hide the baby.”

Cynthia, 1985

“Rumors started to go around that John had a wife hidden away up in Liverpool. But when I asked him if it was true, he always denied it. And on tours and when the Beatles were down in London, he always acted like a totally free agent.”

Maureen O'Grady, Journalist

We will get to John's cheating while a married man later in another post.

Some time after moving in with Mimi and Julia’s witness of Cynthia welcoming John home, during one of his frequent arrival homes that were becoming more further apart, Cynthia decided to doll herself up pretty. A hairdresser convinced Cynthia to cut her long hair short… I don't know how short but enough for Cynthia to freak out. The only thing that could prolong Cynthia's excuse of what happened to her hair was to put them in curls. John came home late while she was 'asleep’. Betcha she faked it so she wouldn't show her guilty face. But the following morning, she just couldn't hide it. Sure enough, John didn't take her hair-do change too lightly. John was livid! John gave Cynthia the silent treatment for three days, wouldn't even look at her. Cynthia preferred to be yelled at than silence. After the 3rd day, John thawed. Maybe he realized that fighting over hair was ridiculously silly. Years later, Cynthia realized that for John at that stage everything was changing around him; he expected Cynthia to look the same and when he saw a change, John blew up. His music was playing on the radio, he was appearing on television, getting recognized, performing more and everywhere. Cynthia was his rock: stable, supportive, and comfort.

On January 2, 1963, John flew home from a tour in Scotland to surprise Cynthia. He had less than 24 hours of having a break. John used that free time window to be with his pregnant wife from 7:00 PM until 5:00 AM to fly back. John did that again a year later in 1964. This time, Cynthia and 9-month old Julian were living in London (no Mimi around) and John came from Paris around the time the Beatles’ song I Want to Hold Your Hand went to number 1 on the United States Billboard charts.

“I got pregnant, we got married, the Beatles began- and we were all plunged into the whirlwind.”

Cynthia, 1981

Since I am not a doctor or had motherhood experience, you can read more about the rhesus on the American Pregnancy website

Cynthia & (Some of) the Stanley Sisters

Mater, Harrie, Mimi, and Cynthia circa 1965

Aside from Mimi, Cynthia got on better with her sisters, Elizabeth (Mater), Anne (Nanny), and Harriet (Harrie). Harrie lived nearby to Mimi; she was the youngest of the Stanley sisters and the family's baby-sitter. She had two children of her own, Leila (from a previous marriage, her husband died while Leila was a toddler) and David. After Julia died, Harrie became the guardian of Julia and Jacqui. John took Cynthia to meet his Aunt and sisters who liked Cynthia right away.

“She was someone who came into our lives when John was in his teens. Mimi's house, Mendips, was about a half a mile from our own, and John would visit all the time, coming round especially to call Cynthia on our phone- one of those old black ones with a round dial and curly cord. We’d only know he was there because the receiver would disappear into the garden behind the hedge. She also came to our house where they’d sit together, hold hands, and snog- which he wouldn't have dared do at Mimi's- while Jacqui and I peeped and giggled. At Mendips, I remember him looking out of the window for the bus she was on.”

Julia Baird, 1998

“I met John the year after his mother was killed in a road accident, and the girls I first met 2 years later. They were all bereaved and when the girls’ father was also killed by a car, they were even more vulnerable. They were orphaned but getting on with their lot because they had no alternative. The family was very close and tight-knit, and the family females very strong. So one way or another they all looked after the girls, though their Aunt Harrie formally their guardian took them to live at her cottage in Woolton. I remember them coming home from school in gymslips and satchels, two lovely girls who at the time seemed so much younger than I was- though of course the few years mean nothing now. Harriet's house was very small, which is one reason why John and I began to talk endlessly about buying them a house of their own.”

Cynthia, 1998

More about Julia and Jacqui in another post. After Harrie died in 1972, Cynthia attended her funeral.

The middle child of the Stanley sisters was Anne Georgina, AKA Nanny. She had one son, Michael, while being a career woman. Not really much is known about Cynthia and Nanny’s relationship other than they getting along. However, Nanny was part of Mimi's tag team to convince John not to marry a pregnant Cynthia. Nanny did visit John and Cynthia in their mansion in Weybridge later on. I believe it was Nanny who told John that he had another sister, Victoria Elizabeth, who was given up for adoption in 1964; John attempted his lifetime search for his sister but no luck. She also told Julia some interesting family secrets in her last years. Nanny died in 1997.

Mater, Cynthia, and Julian in a park, Weybridge 1967

Photographed by Dorothy Jarlett

The second eldest was Elizabeth Anne, AKA Mater. She lived in Scotland and had one son, Stanley who was the eldest of the cousins. Mater and Cynthia were close. John took Cynthia hitchhiking up to Scotland to meet Mater after some time of dating. Mater was another Weybridge visitor. Whenever London got too much for Cynthia, she would take the train to Scotland where they spoke everything under the sun while drinking Mater’s husband's whiskey.

John, Julian, Kyoko, and Yoko in Scotland, 1969

After John and Cynthia divorced and he remarried to Yoko in 1969, they decided on a spur-of-the-moment to travel up to Scotland with their children Julian and Kyoko. They visited Mater who made a roast for dinner, but John and Yoko refused because of their diet so Yoko made their dinner much to Mater's dismay. Needless to say, Mater was not a Yoko fan. She criticised John over his appearance and recent public antics. John got agitated. At one point, John mentioned to Mater that he was going to take Julian away from Cynthia. Because Mater was fond of Cynthia, she objected and under no certain terms would he do such a thing. That seemed to have been the final straw for John to cut the unexpected visit short and stormed off with Yoko, Julian, and Kyoko in tow. Soon, they were in a car accident and taken to the hospital. Julian was the least hurt and Mater went to get him under her care with John's consent (despite being pissed off but I don't think he had much of a choice). Cynthia wasn't aware of the Scotland trip until she saw the news of the accident and immediately went to get Julian from Mater. Mater died in 1976 with Cynthia attending the funeral.