Appointment with Paul!

This article about a contest winner meeting Paul was original from "Jackie Pop" magazine.  It was published on June 14, 1980.   However it was reproduced in the July 1980 issue of "With a Little Help from my Friends."   I think the story occurred in 1979 because of all the mentions of Wings.   But it is really a vague story, so I am not sure.

Appointment with Paul!

Jackie magazine June 14, 1980

When we asked lucky reader Kathleen Joyce to come along with us to meet Paul McCartney and have her picture taken with him, she couldn’t believe her luck!

After what seemed like an interminable journey, we finally arrived at the theatre to be greeted by Paul’s publicist, Tony Brainsby, and then we took a seat till it was time for us to meet the man behind – or should we say in front of – super group, Wings.

Was Kathleen nervous, I wondered.  After all, it’s not every day that you have your photograph taken with one of the top, not to say richest, men in the pop world? Not surprisingly, she was nervous!

“I don’t suppose I should really say this,” she laughed, “but of all the Beatles, George Harrison is my real favorite.  But I don’t mind, I think Paul’s great as well.” She added.

Eventually we were ushered in to meet Paul and a surprising sight met our eyes.  Forget all your illusions of glamorous pop stars, ours were smashed in a few seconds.

Not only were the rest of Wings around, but the whole of Paul’s family, even his youngest son!  Seeing some other people of around her own age soon put Kathleen at ease, and Paul and Linda couldn’t have been nicer.

After chatting with him for a few moments came the nerve-racking photo session –something Kathleen was really dreading. “I hate having my pictures taken,” she admitted, “I always think that my eyes look funny.”

But Paul made it easy for her and soon she was laughing and smiling for the photographer.  Then it was time for us to leave so we said goodbye to Paul and Linda.

“Haven’t you forgotten something?”  Paul called after us.  “Don’t you want my autograph?” 

Not only did Kathleen get his autograph, but loads of pictures of the band, posters, badges and stickers, so by the time we left she was laden with goodies.

“You’d probably have kicked yourself if you’d walked out the door without getting it.”  Paul joked.

So what was Kathleen’s impression of him?  “I didn’t think he’d be so nice -  I was really nervous because I didn’t know what he would be like, but I needn’t have worried,” she said.  

Now after a wait of ten years, Paul has released his second solo album.  On this long-awaited second album, which has been aptly titled, McCartney II is his last single, “Coming up.”   On this track Paul plays all the instruments on the A side, but on the B side he has some help from the rest of Wings as it’s a live recording from a concert in the Apollo Theatre in Glasgow.  

So what was Kathleen’s final verdict on her meeting with this remarkable man?

“He was great!  Meeting Paul’s the most wonderful thing that has ever happened to me!”