Picture : Brian and Verity Lambert (posing together here for Brian's cousin Basil Hyman whilst on holiday in Torquay. Verity Ann Lambert OBE was an English television and film producer. She was the founding producer of the science-fiction series Doctor Who and she had a long association with Thames Television.

The first month went so quickly I blinked and missed it, after sitting in the studio, yet again, on the first day of the second month, Brian guided me out the door of studio 4 and down a corridor and it wasn't toward the canteen much to Georges distress, he wanted a cup of tea pronto!

"Tea and biscuits, Abbs don't forget now" George hollered, I didn't mind, George was sweet and never made me feel bad about hanging around them at the studio. I suppose the muffins and jam drops I made and shared were a big draw card too.

"This, Abigail, is Freda and Helen" Brian introduced me to the girls and we nodded, I had already met them on the second day, it was impossible not to like them as they were homely and funny, both being from Liverpool, so easy to be around.

Freda had dark locks like mine but her eyes were cornflower blue, tall and willowy she ran the Beatles office in a jovial and smart way, everything had a place but everything was always fun, the lads loved her for being quick-witted and that she took none of their silliness seriously.

Helen was new, an older lady of around thirty-five she had a nine-year-old daughter and a husband that would send her flowers once a week, making Freda and I oh and aww at her luck at winning such a romantic husband. She was good with numbers and Brian used her like a calculator. Her salt and pepper hair was swept up in a bee-hive most days and she often would spray hairspray til the can ran low.

"Abigail, would you like to help the ladies in the office, it can't be all that fun sitting in the studio listening to the boys play three bars of one song over and over again, hmm?" Brian smiled and leaned on the desk, looking over the mail.

"I mean to pay you of course" he continued and I raised an eyebrow to Freda, she shrugged, I knew they were busy, the numerous bags of fan-mail sent to just the studios address was outlandish, I shudder to think what the mail is like at their actual office in Saville Row.

"Well I wasn't meant to be here overly long you see, it's just a visit to Paul really" I offered as an half-hearted answer.

"Well how about this then... while your here and, if you get bored, you help if you want to, doesn't have to be set in stone" Brian responded kindly "It's just.... You see the movie premiere is coming upon us and I really need the passes done for the guests, perhaps you could do that, help me out of a bit of a jam"

As soon as I said yes he was pulling me gently along to his small cubicle come office that was set up behind the two girls desk.

Neatly writing the lads names out on cards and that of their dates, partners or friends on the other cards. I should probably call them passes as that was what they were;

Just like the delectable Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Golden Tickets they guaranteed a wonderful time for all, at the premiere of the lads new film 'A Hard Day's Night'

Paul McCartney Jane Asher

Now I had met Jane only last Sunday night, her having called saying she was back in London once again from her movie role that was shot overseas in Chicago, America. Jane and I circled like cats for all of one minute til we both remembered stupidly, I was Paul's sister and not lover, I wasn't a threat but more a sister.

Paul and I had settled into a comfortable existence of tea and toast for breakfast and stew or some other rubbish Paul wished to eat for dinner. His diet was a food atrocity of too much salt and not enough vegetables, I planned to fix that as soon as I could. And, sometimes, if I closed my eyes it was just like a night back at Jim's. I told Paul this a few nights in and he laughed blindly for five minutes.

Paul and I rowing over the telly, what radio station to tune into or what record would spin on the turntable had made us friends but enemies on days I didn't win!

Clothes left on the floor, muddy shoes from a walk in the park, the toilet seat left up (I grant that it is his house but really can't he put it down and close the lid!), farting as he walks in the kitchen ( and smiling broadly when he did), dishes left in odd places I was turning into a housekeeper at the same rate of speed as I was turning into a 'Paul is only Human' believer!

Jane was very pretty, perfect smooth red hair, immaculate sense of style, her makeup- applied to perfection always. If she rocked up in a Caranby St designer frock I was in daggy pjs and a bowl of ice cream on the couch, I had absolutely no hope of winning the race, I gave up even trying to be half way decent in her presence.

She and Paul were a smart couple, I could see they were very tender with each other, when she was around......

She left for weeks at a time modelling and acting, returning from trips like no time had passed in their relationship, it can't have been a wonderful thing to be left for weeks like that. Paul coped with it quite well I thought and he was dotting on her always but when he was alone, I was the centre of his universal and really shouldn't have been.

George Harrison Pattie Boyd

Oh Pattie, even just a giggle floating down the hall was all you needed to hear to know that a ray of sunshine was about to enter your life. Her bubbly personality was infectious she made people happy just by being Pattie. George was smitten and I could see why.

A very beautiful girl both inside and out, modelling assignments were often and her face adorned magazines most weeks.

When we first met, I was overwhelmed once again with doubt, her beauty was radiant, she the flower petal- centre stage, I the potpourri hidden in the drawer. She quickly assumed her un-requested role of fashion mentor and had me out shopping the very afternoon we met. Not in a nasty way- 'oh look at what that dreadful Abigail is wearing.' It was, and is, plain old girly giggles and fun while trawling bargain bins, op shops and chic stores she stumbled upon.

At first, I picked up only clothes that were for day to day wear, a sundress here and capris and blouse there. The last couple of times have been to get Pattie 'the perfect' dress for the movie premiere, we canvased street after street and she bought more than one special night's gown, dresses and shoes, bits of bling too.

We stumbled into one of the last shops late on Tuesday afternoon, the store owner looking at us with disdain, as we prattled on in the back mulling over dresses, a rainbow of colours and all multitudes of fabrics- cotton, silk and satin finery making us oh and ah, then 'the one' was found.

"This is perfect isn't it Abby!?" Pattie held it out in front of her twisting it this way and that. "Oh, it's a James Galanos too!!"

"What is a James Galos" I questioned as she touched the beautiful gold sparkling brocade evening dress the gold mesh top tying at the neck, the matching brocade coat being handed to me by the sales person, her now realising who was in her shop. Pattie however was gone, her teeth lightly tugging on her bottom lip, her mind must been running away with the thought of wearing the dress, I guess.

"hmmm" she muttered after a silence that stretched into minutes "Oh silly, James Galano, a clothes designer it's his design. Here try it on"

"Pardon" I squeaked.

"Try. It. On. Silly!" I was pushed into a change room before I could say I'm not going out anywhere. Pattie stood hovering, I could see her little heel tapping under the door "Finished!?"

"No, wait! Why am I trying this on? I thought we were out looking for you!" I reached round to do the side zipper up, but Pattie was in beside me fingers nimbly shooting the zip into place. "It hugs the figure a bit much....."

"It's the fashion, dumby" Pattie tapped her chin and circled me slowly, the sales lady approaching, smiling with a pair of matching heels "right, put these on then come out for a proper look, in the light"

I did as I was told, Pattie was a ray of sunshine and all but clothes buying had turned her into a mini cyclone of authority.

"Weren't you supposed to buy a dress" I repeated, lifting an eyebrow. She smiled, her gap in her tooth making its appearance, no words forthcoming only quiet clicking of her tongue and humming and harring over my appearance.

"Oh no silly, I got one last week!" Pattie giggled at my puzzled face "I like shopping" she shrugged and giggled "shoot me!!"

"It is beautiful and I feel like a princess but" I acknowledged my fondness for the dress readily, no one could deny it's cut, colour or fabric was anything but.

"Oh no a but" Pattie pouted and giggled, she turned to the mirror checked her reflection and made sure there was no lettuce in her teeth from lunch, I looked in the mirror over her slim shoulder.

"I have neither the occasion or dollars to own it" There, that should have it back on the rack for another lady to buy quickly.

"I already paid for it" Pattie muttered under her breathe, then decided to raise her voice so I heard her correctly, a smile breaking forth with the revelation "I, Miss Abigail have already purchased this dress for you!"

The dress now sits at the back of the cupboard awaiting it's time to shine, it could be a rather long wait.

Ringo Starr Maureen Cox

Mary Maureen and Ringo were joined at the hip. I hadn't realised they had only been together 'together' for only a few weeks here in London they getting more serious just prior to Richards hospitalisation with tonsillitis.

They previously had been an off and on couple with her commuting all the way from Liverpool. Ringo's face lights up like Christmas under her gaze and he told me quietly that he 'felt as if she hypnotized him with her luvly eyes'. I was happy for him as he seemed a lovely bloke, very down to earth and as funny as a comedian on the Saturday night show.

Maureen, as she preferred, being new to London would join Pattie and I for milkshakes and burgers if Ringo let her go, his arms seemed like tentacles he cuddled her so much! Freda and Helen rounded out the group. The afternoons were full of naughty school girl chatter and gossip about celebrities and in Patties and Maureen's case, as they often went clubbing, who saw whom with whom. Jane joined us when she could but, more often than not, she was absent unfortunately.

John Lennon

Cynthia Powell

Well these few words blew me away I definitely wasn't expecting an unfamiliar name beside Johns, that said, I also wasn't expecting my own.

I had no idea John was friendly with anyone of the female variety, he seemed to be always here at the studio or with me at Paul's or off out with press calls.

Maybe she's a friend from Liverpool?

Maybe a close cousin.

Childhood friend....

John had a date to the premiere and I was to find, when I walked through into the main office, that they were romantically involved. Freda merrily quoting the pair had been together 'an eternity and a day.'

I hadn't suspected a thing.

I sat back down at Brian's desk and my eyes trailed over the pretty place cards, Willy Wonka himself would have been pleased with the script I had attached each name with.

Shaking fingers griped the pen as I wrote the final two names on the cards.

How can a guy kiss a girl, wanting more and not mean it.

How can I not have known.

Why was I so juvenile to think I was special.

I was suddenly unwell, stomach churning unwell and if I had to see him and smile and be nice ..... well I just couldn't. I stood with shaky feet, walked through to Freda and I must have convinced my body... She noted my sickly looking pallor and as I begged illness she was immediately on the telephone calling the taxi company.

I was bundled inside and sent back to Cavandish Rd, pronto.

But I wasn't ill.