2 days til liftoff 3rd June 1964

The phone had rung 4 or 5 times, it's the middle of the night let me sleep would ya. I put the pillow over my head only to hear the phone, muffled this time, ring a 6th time. OK, OK hold your horses.

" 'Ello. This better be important "

"Rox it's Maureen. You need to come quick Richie is ever so sick. We are down at University College Hospital. I don't know what to do." Maureen bawled down the line.

"I'm leaving right now huny!" I hung up the phone receiver, tossed some capri pants and knit sweater on, then dashed to the street. Grabbing a cab was not too hard as one always sat on the corner waiting for nearby fares. I ran fingers through my hair to control the mop it had become from sleeping.

As I approached the desk, I spotted Brian up ahead pushing Paul, John and George into a room; I sped after them.

"Hey!! Where's... Maureen, oh huny" I ran to Maureen, she was a mess, mascara all over from crying and her hair was everywhere, not Maureen's' usual fine 'do. I gave her a hug but before I could ask what was wrong a doctor walked in, a clipboard pinned at his side, held under his arm.

"Mrs Starkey? Oh, yes there you are. Shall we step outside and talk privately." Maureen, shaking with distress, replied in the negative. She was staying put beside me.

"Well we have been doing some tests, given Richard some medicine to try and calm the fever, he also was given a tepid bath" George sniggered at the bath bit and Paul nudged him in the side. The Doctor continued on " It looks like the lad is stricken with a high-grade fever, and you did well calling the ambulance and getting him in straight away after he collapsed."

We all took in the information. Each one of us wanting to ask questions but too afraid of the answers. Brian stepped up.

"Hello, Brian Epstein. I am manager and good friend of Richard's, may I pose some questions to you as you can see, Maureen is in no state." I hugged Maur again giving her hand a squeeze. The doctor, looking for Maureen's approval, then nodded consent.

"How serious? Can he be released tomorrow? Can we see him?" Brian didn't dally he cut straight to the important questions.

"Serious, but he is stable" the stony-faced doctor looked at each of us while speaking "I envisage him being in hospital a minimum of a week to 10 days and yes 2 visitor's maximum at a time. Right, must do rounds now if there isn't anything else you needed to know?" Brian motioned there were no more questions, and with that, the doctor turned on his heel and exited the, now deathly, silent room.

"Maureen, Rox go in and see the lad eh" Brian pro-offered. I led Maureen out of the room we held hands and looked in on our Rich. He was asleep but looked so tiny in the bed, his skin was greyish like the life was being drained out of him, I stayed a bit and whispered get well soon to him then gave him a kiss on the forehead I then hugged Maureen telling her I would be outside. She needed to sit with him now. I just remembered him in hospital all those other times when he was younger and shuddered, hugging myself as I wandered back to the waiting room.

"He'll be right. Good ol rings, hard as nails our lad. Up and around in no time I say" John optimistically spoke up. Making most everyone agree.

"We'll have to cancel the tour" George piped up.

"Can't do that Georgie, its set-in contracts and reams of documents, isn't Brian?" Paul wished he wasn't right but guessed correct.

"Um. Yes. Yes- it is, unfortunately" Brian slumped on the nearest plastic chair his mind turning over. His well laid, meticulous plans were starting to unravel rather dangerously.

"Well I'm not going.. leaving 'im like that. It ain't right. And how do you play our songs with no beat anyhows ....." George was adamant.

"Just like Hamburg- couldn't get a drummer even if we gave away free drumsticks then" Paul remembered quietly under his breathe.

"We HAVE a drummer; he WILL be right" John slumped next to Brian tapping a fag on the packet putting it to his lips then remembering he was in a hospital.

The boys all went in to sit with Maureen and Richard 2 by 2 as per doctors' orders returning solemn and quiet.

Brian had his minute or two of panic, all in his head, then rounded up those of us in the room like children, taking us out to the car that had brought them to the hospital those many hours earlier.

"Right. Now. Yes well, we need to meet early in the morning and get an update on Richard. Go over the tour and last minute details" Brian's organisational skills kicked back in. Looking over at me, he finished with a clanger if an order "...And go over these contracts one last time"

Due to the night being almost over, George, John and Paul plus Brian too decided that instead of traipsing back to their various abodes they would bunker down at Saville Row. I fetched them all tea and bade them goodnight.

"Rox" John whispered as I passed him by. "Want some company?"

"John I'm not going to be very good company I'm going to go over this contract now. I can't sleep so I might as well do something constructive."

"Oh. Ok then, I'll just camp down 'ere then. Stay out of your way"

"Probably for the best Winks. Brian won't take it lightly if you're a mess of no sleep in the morn now will he." John nodded assent but countered with a wink and a quiet "...well if you need me I'll be right here"

I wandered upstairs to my room. I like it here, it's not like an office which is all business-like, it's cosy and warm the whole place has a relaxed vibe, but while the lads are on tour I'm going to look around for a flat of my own in the area, bout time I spread my wings and stood on my own two feet. I made for my bureau in the corner, turned the table lamp on and flipped the folder of overseas contracts open...

Two hours later and dawn has streamed her warm rays across my face. I must have dozed as I wake face down slumped over the final page. Another hour and Brian will be shoving the boys into the boardroom. I best shower now so I'm ready to meet them there.

Glancing around the room I see John with his feet up on the main table leaning back in his chair with his eyes closed, he isn't asleep as I can see a slight movement as one or another of the boy's chat quietly. Paul grasps a cup of tea in one hand and a spoon dangling in the other, milk dripping onto the table next to his bowl of cornflakes. George sitting on the table, legs hanging loosely, facing me in a bit of a trance as he bites his fingernails, he doesn't seem to notice me move to the middle of the table near Brian til I'm seated.

"Oh 'ello there Miss Nicholls glad you could join us. Care for some luke-warm tea" George has swung round now sitting cross legged looking up the table at the rest of us.

"No thanks George. Any word on Richard?"

"Nah. I called the hospital 'alf hour ago. Nurse was a crabby so and so. She basically yelled down the phone at me saying 'The doctor will be making his rounds shortly please do not call til after 9am'. No news I'm afraid to say"

"Brian, boys" I addressed everyone in the room now "I'm sorry. I went over this from all angles there is no backing out. I think fans of Ringos would be very upset he isn't there so they would want to reschedule- so that's a quarter saying wait; the other three quarters will 'ave an absolute fit!"

"Oh, I don't think Ringo would have a quarter of the fan base" Paul said.

"Shut up Paul she is just rounding the numbers don't get ya frilly knickers in a knot" John rounded on him. Fully awake now, taking in the scene. Paul threw his spoon half-heartedly at him missing by a mile.

"I know, I know. Just trying to lighten the mood. Don't get all catty on me Winston" Paul pointing a finger at a tired John. John glanced down at the spoon just behind him I could see him thinking about reaching for it, to return the, now, missile.

I step into the fray again trying to deflect the downward mood "Look if you don't need me I'm going down the hosp"

"That sounds grand luv, let us know how the Starr is will you as soon as you can eh?" George rolled his eyes at me regarding John and Paul. Brian nodded and off I went to the hospital.

As I arrived at the hospital a crowd of reporters stood left of the door, as I was fairly new on the Beatles scene they didn't bother me. Richard was still dozing while Maureen slept on a camp bed at the far side of his bed. I laid the small bag of clothes and toiletries I had grabbed from my room on the dresser by the window for Maur to use when she awoke.

"Rox" Richard croaked very gingerly.

"Oh Rich we are all so worried 'bout you I'm so glad your awake you look much better this morning" I'm being positive but Rich looks just as ashen as he did in the early hours.

"I'm not luv. Just had that bloody doctor pushing 'an prodding me sticking paddle pop sticks down my throat can't sleep through that now can I!"

"No I guess not" I whisper back giving his hand a squeeze and searching his face as he closes his eyes again. Richard has always been a big brother to me, him and James both were there when I scrapped my knee or was bullied in the younger years. I move a bit of his long-ish fringe from his face he is handsome in that little devil, charming Richard way. His blue eyes always true and sparkling, friendly, open and engaging though not so much this morning which is sad. He is asleep again. I wander into the hallway nearly colliding with the same doctor from this morning.

"Oh good morning miss" a tired doctor greets me "You're Mr Starkey's' sister right?" he doesn't stop talking and I don't correct him Richard is my brother by all accounts bar the birth certificate "Yes I've seen Richard and there is no way that lad is leaving this hospital AND if my Beatle mad head nurse is correct, there is no way he can last or have the stamina to be going on that upcoming tour at this stage. Do I make myself understood? If he leaves too early he WILL relapse and it Will be worse"

"I hear you doctor, loud and clear. Believe me I have no intentions of pushing him onto a plane. I will let the other lads know what you've told me. Do you have a number that Mr. Epstein might reach you on?"

The doctor looks at me, I'm sure he can see I am as concerned as he is about Rich. He scrawls his number on a card turns on heel and marches off.

*************

"It's not right I'm not agreeing with this ROT!" George is, putting it mildly, upset. I can hear him as I shut the front door. All of Saville Row can probably hear him.

"What do YOU suggest then G? Come on its just a small part of the tour. Richard will get better and join up with us in, Australia somewhere- where is it Brian?"

"Melbourne John IF he is out as the doctor predicts" a weary Brian is pacing up and down while the boys are yelling and complaining across the room.

"Roxan" Paul smiles as I take in the scene. George is upset which is rightly so "How is our dear lad?"

"Putting it kindly I would say slightly, SLIGHTLY better but he is nowhere near drumming or lifting his head off the pillow for that matter"

"Right lads, it's all for one- one for all right?" John rally's the troops but silence reigns in the room "Right?!"

"Yes John" George and Paul reply in a slightly morbid tandem but George, taking Johns words wrong, retorts again "So we will pull out then, wait for Ringo to get well- 100%?"

"Look George if we were a two-bit band playing some far-flung dive in Devon it would be simple but this is the world mate. Thousands of kids paid their pocket money, promoters and US signed the agreements" John holds his hand up to George stopping him from butting in "I DON'T like it one bit either Geo but we 'ave our hands tied lad. Next tour- God forbid ...." John now addresses Brian and myself "A clause WILL be in it regarding this type of situation, wont it" John stresses the last sentence.

"Of course, yes right- Miss Nicholls" Brian thanks John with his eyes as we both nod agreement. Usually it's John going off the deep end but this morning he has been extremely calm regarding Richards illness and the effects on the band.

"Shall we tell Rox our plan of action then" Paul walks 'round and puts an arm round George's shoulder. George tries to shrug him off but Paul is hanging on to him now.

These following photos are At EMI Studios on the 3rd of June 1964.
📷 By Robert Freeman
This is the day they meet Jimmy.
Are they hanging around waiting for him...