FIFTY YEARS AGO Thursday April 29 1971
The end of the road for Paul
Paul McCartney, who is staying at High Park Farm, Campbeltown, has made a giant step towards severing all his connections with the other three Beatles.
John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr abandoned their appeal against a High Court order on Monday, putting the affairs of their company, Apple, in the hands of a receiver. The three now face a legal costs bill estimated at £100,000.
Mr Morris Finer, QC for John, George, Ringo and Apple, told the appeal court on Monday they now considered it was in the common interest to explore ways of allowing Paul to free himself from the partnership by agreement.
Mr David Hurst QC, on behalf of Paul, said: ‘He will most willingly enter into the proposed negotiations to achieve his freedom from the partnership by consent rather than by court action.’
What does Paul feel about the rise and fall of the Beatles?
Two Courier men drove up to High Park Farm to find out what the man in the centre of it all felt about things. Apart from being obviously excited about his latest and most important success, Paul did not like saying anything about the matter. Though polite and friendly, he made it quite clear he does not see any point in giving interviews or saying anything remotely sensational.
After 10 years of being harried and hustled by journalists and photographers, never having a minute’s peace to himself, always having been the centre of attraction, never having been able to pop in to the ‘local’, is it any wonder Paul is determined to live as quietly as possible?
He seemed as happy as a sand-boy, out there in the wilds.
When we approached him, he had obviously been brushing down one of his horses because he still held a horse brush in his hand.
His wife Linda looked the essence of happiness as her golden hair mirrored the warm sunshine. The children yelled and gurgled contentedly and even Martha, the English sheepdog, seemed happy.
The farm house itself has been extensively renovated, a new roof having been constructed and the farm work appears to be progressing normally.
Paul himself has changed, outwardly at any rate. Gone is the Beatle mop, the style which was copied the whole word over. Gone is the boyish grin, which once sent screaming thousands into ecstasy.
What has taken the place of these characteristics? Paul now sports a beard. The hair remains longish but it is brushed back, revealing the full extent of his forehead. The smile is no longer boyish.
The former bass-guitarist/song-writer with the most influential and certainly most famous foursome the world has ever known has changed.
Paul will probably continue to compose such brilliant songs as Maybe I’m Amazed and Another Day, but to millions of people, from Campbeltown to Honolulu, pop music will never be the same again.