Visiting Scotland
The Beatles loved their time in Scotland including, right from the top, with young fans at a concert in Kirkcaldy, Paul during the band’s trip to Loch Earn, and the Fab Four at Prestwick Airport. already had two number ones. Alan Forrester, 14 at the time, can recall his excitement at getting tickets. He said: “I came into school waving these two tickets, saying ‘ I’ve got them! I’ve got them! Seven and six!’
“I was in the gods. You could hardly hear the band for the shrieking and you think, ‘ We paid that money and we never heard it.’ But we were there!” CAIRD HALL, DUNDEE, OCTOBER 7, 1963
“I worked for Dundee District Council for 35 years and early in my career our office was situated behind the Caird Hall stage, with a door accessing the stage,” Daniel Ferguson said.
“When The Beatles came to Dundee we were able to hear them practising from the office.
“Later in the afternoon came a knock on the common door and who shoulduld come into our office but Paul. He asked us if he could use our phone and sat for quite a while chatting away. We could hardly believe it!”
The show was 15- year- old Morag Thompson’s first concert. Her pal worked next to the box office, so was able to get them front-row tickets.
“We came out in a daze and our ears ringing,” Morag said.
“Next morning there were photos of the audience in The Courier and the girl sitting next to me was screaming her head off. My parents were horrified but I didn’t let on that I was next to her and in a similar state.” ABC CINEMA, EDINBURGH, APRIL 29, 1964
The only way to be sure of getting a ticket was to camp out overnight so 13- year- old Moira Morris and her pal were allowed to wait with hundreds of other girls. The police told the cinema to sell the tickets 12 hours early, but Moira’s mum had said she would come up the next day and give her the money in the queue, so she didn’t have any cash.
“I burst into tears but a policeman said not to worry and I would get a ticket. They would keep it for me for a day.” CAIRD HALL, DUNDEE, OCTOBER 20, 1964
Donald Stuart said: “My group, Tommy Dene and The Tremors, supported The Beatles and, after playing, we had to act as stewards at the foot of the stage. I was in front of John Lennon and I heard their playing, despite the screaming!”
The Beatles – I Was There, by Richard Houghton, is out now from Red Planet Publishing.