Beatles pictures given to daring Newcastle fan 45 years ago are up for sale

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Beatles pictures given to daring Newcastle fan 45 years ago are up for sale
BY TONY HENDERSON
20 MAR 2016

Barbara Henderson knocked on the door at Apple Studios in London in 1971 and was given various Beatles memorabilia


Barbara Henderson of High Heaton with Beatles albums she got at Abbey Road Studios

Opportunity knocked for Tyneside Beatles fan Barbara Henderson as she walked past the famous Apple Studios in London one night 45 years ago.

Barbara, then 18 and working in a London hotel, and her friend impulsively knocked on the door of the studios at 10pm - and were invited inside for a tour.

They were given Beatles albums, including Rubber Soul, and a batch of photographs.

Now Barbara’s enterprise in 1971 will pay off when her collection of promotional pictures from Apple Studios, including images of The Beatles, are auctioned in Newcastle.


Barbara Henderson pictured in 1970

Barbara, now 62 who lives in High Heaton in Newcastle, said: “It was 10 o’clock at night and amazingly a security guard answered the door. He took us around Apple and gave us photos and some albums as well.

“We sat at the their desks in the studio and were there for a couple of hours. It was wonderful.

“I’m still a massive Beatles fan and I was upset to hear about the recent death of George Martin – he really was the fifth Beatle.

“Their music has just been fantastic through him.”

The 16 photographs include pictures of The Beatles, John Tavener, James Taylor, The Radha-Krishna Temple, Mary Hopkin, Yoko Ono and Jackie Lomax.

Barbara said: “I don’t really want to let them go but they’re gathering dust.


A picture of George Harrison which is for auction in Newcastle

“They’re so rare – I have never seen them anywhere else and I’m always looking for Beatles’ pictures.

“I would love them to go to someone who would appreciate them.”

During her four years in London, there was another Beatles highlight for Barbara.

She said: “I heard that Yoko Ono was holding a book signing at an Oxford Street bookshop and I went along. She turned up in a Rolls Royce with John Lennon and I ducked under the linked police cordon and got into the shop.

“They were both sitting down for the signing and I wormed my way forward and touched John Lennon’s hand.”

The photographs will be auctioned by Anderson & Garland on March 23 during its three-day Fine Art sale.


Some of the pictures which are to be sold in Newcastle

The lot has an estimated value of £300-£500, but the death of Beatles producer Sir George Martin on March 8 may well push the price of the collection even higher.

Anderson & Garland auctioneer, Fred Wyrley-Birch, said: “The market for anything Beatles-related is very strong, and as time goes on there is more and more interest.

“We expect the sad passing of Sir George Martin to renew interest even further. There will be a revival of interest in their music, not just memorabilia.

“George Martin, being the wonderful producer of classical music and early rock and roll that he was, would have loved to have seen these photos. They are quintessentially the right sort of publicity he would have wanted his boys to have.”



The pictures are expected to attract national and international interest.

For more information, visit  www.andersonandgarland.com  .