This is a story about Carolyn Mitchell from the April 1972 issue of the I.F.A. (The Independent Free Apple). This was an anonymous Beatles fanzine from the early 1970s. So I am not sure who wrote this originally in 1972. The first part of the story came from The Daily Express on Friday, July 2, 1972.
No one really knows what happened. Did Paul really punch Carolyn in the nose? What we do know for certain is that Carolyn had been bothering Paul by hanging around his house on Cavendish and then hanging out around the farm. Paul was angry and approached her and basically yelled and cussed at her. She always stood by the story that hFe gave her a bloody nose and he said that it didn't happen. Since they are the only two people there -- we will never know the complete story.
I have "talked" to Carolyn through this site on a few occasions and I really, really love her book. She looks back and admits that she made mistakes and would do things differently today. Please do not judge her from what you think in 2021. She is a very lovely person.
Number one Beatles' fan Carolyn Mitchell demanded an apology from Paul McCartney last night for, she claimed, hitting her on the nose. Fan and Beatle clashed when Paul told her to clear off from his farmhouse near Campbelltown, Argyll. Carolyn went to the police, who are sending a report to the public prosecutor Last night, Carolyn, a 24-year-old American said she would drop her complaint if Paul said sorry. She waited in her car for him a few yards from his house. Inside Paul denied he hit her and said there was nothing to apologize about. He refused to see her. His version of what happened after he saw Carolyn perched on rocks overlooking his home on Monday: "I was very annoyed. For three years I have been asking this girl politely, pleading with her to leave me alone and on Monday I admit I was rude and the words I used were very rough, but there as no rough stuff." Carolyn from Salt Lake City, Utah, said, "I was shocked by what happened. I was just sitting there hoping maybe to see Paul when he came up to me very angry." Paul's hand "caught me on the nose." Carolyn came to Britain to be near The Beatles, she said. She now lives in St. Johns Wood, London.
For those of you who have been to London, to attempt to meet a Beatle, trailing cautiously down Cavendish Avenue, or stood across from #3 Savile Row (wondering if you would be welcomed to join others on those steps). Wherever you were scouting London, you may no doubt have met or seen Carolyn Mitchell. She may seem to come from nowhere and in turn, you wonder just where she did come from, but she's always there. Most recently she was that little blurb in your local paper. A vague story of the girl Paul had supposedly smacked in the nose (it had coverage in many countries).
My first meeting with Carolyn was also my first day in London. As my friend and I wandered around St. John's Wood, looking for a casual pen pal (they all seem to survive for some reason in this area). We found ourselves at St. John's and Elez Hospital, just at the end of Cavendish Avenue. Carolyn was being assisted by friends in gathering up her belongings and mountains of kept plunder. She just quit her job as a maid at the hospital and with her slight pay, she was moving out of her tiny quarters to attempt a repeat to go up to see Paul at his farm...again!
She left by bus, an 18-hour jaunt, first to Glasgow then to Campbeltown. She didn't have knowledge of a place to stay after she got there, or how she'd return; she didn't have enough money for that.
To know Carolyn isn't exactly to pity her or let her fall on her own stones. Regardless of her share of misfortunes, I wonder if she has an angle on her shoulder. She always seems to get out of some pretty hairy situations. Recently she had threats of being reports, but she's still in London today.
The most admirable quality of her personality is that she's friendly as well, and she refuses to believe that Paul dislikes her. She has wandered aimlessly from one job to another and has been known to put want ads in the paper asking for positions near or in St. John's Wood, "to be near Paul McCartney." She has been working on a book about The Beatles for ages, compiling peoples (fans ) in person account and meetings of The Beatles. She had tried to get George and Ringo interested in supporting the book, but they kindly avoid her.
Nobody hates Carolyn Mitchell. She had found tolerance from the Scruffs, company with the Baddies, and has curiously interested many by passing acquaintances from other countries and visitors to Apple.
She sounds like a rude, stupid jerk. How would you like someone to stalk you and to constantly appear, unwanted, at your home? How would you like someone to ignore years of polite requests to let them have their privacy? How would you know they weren't dangerous in some way?
ReplyDeleteagree
DeleteSo she's admitted her mistakes and says she would do things differently if she could. Hope the judgementalists out there dont have people holding things they did 50 years ago against them too.
DeleteI don't think you have to be "judemental" to think that the blatantly awful things this person did (repeatedly) to harass and invade Paul's life were totally rotten and unacceptable.
DeleteAs Sara stated, she's a lovely person *now* who's in her 70's and has to deal with the mistakes of her youth. Like all of us.
DeleteThis person has my sympathy because she seems to possibly have mental health issues. And if so, she was born with them -- she didn't have a choice in the matter. And she's certainly not a stupid jerk.
very bad choices & emotionally disturbed I reckon
DeleteThat level of infatuation, love and obsession got the better of her for sure. Unless you've experienced it, you won't know how it can distort your judgement. It is like a madness -- thankfully she seems a kind person at heart and didn't have other issues on top of it that might have lead to Paul or Linda being harmed. Its hard to blame Paul for not eventually overreacting with swearing, he's just human. We can't say if he hit her. She might have not listened after he swore and he might have lost control and smacked her then, which guys from his caveman generation could easily do . Yet also when someone is that obsessed they can easily make things up for attention or spite. The fact that she drove back to wait for an apology sounded like more obsession and instability. I feel for her, but also for Paul. He moved out there to get away from the stalking fans and had his kids to worry about too.
DeleteShe was under the grip of obsession and infatuation and that can really mess up anyone's thinking. She had a hard life there. But I feel for Paul too. He had his kids to worry about and moved out there so he could get away from stalking fans. I wish John had smacked his last stalker senseless.
Deleteagree w/ 9/5/22 at 8:17 - she had to have serious problems to go back after that
Deleteshe obviously did stalk him sadly
Deletethanks to 9/5/22 insightful comments
DeleteI understand Carolyn because I was sadly a messed up another who was obsessed with Paul although I didn't go to Scotland and stalk him like she did. It wasn't until I actually met him in person that I realized he wasn't the fantasy man I had made him out to be; he was sarcastic which I figured he might be tired but the next time he completely ignored and blew off my mates and me. It made me grow up.
Deletere: 11/25. Had a friend who followed Paul since 1969 in NY, London, and also wherever he did a concert. Never spoke about having a boyfriend because no one could compare to Paul. She passed away a couple years ago. Finally free.
DeleteHope your friend was more happy than not in her travels and pursuit. As appreciative as Paul may be of all the love and attention I also know that he thinks "You must try also." To find a partner.
Deletethis is called celebrity worship syndrome
Deletecertainly not #1 Beatles fan
ReplyDeleteWhat book did she write?
ReplyDeleteIt is called "All Our Loving." I enjoyed it a lot.
DeleteThe thing is that it was common knowledge then that Paul said he didn't want fans coming to Scotland which some did anyway, he asked Carolyn to leave him alone but in her obsession with him did not, & as said even George and Ringo avoided her. Of course no one hates Carolyn or any of the others who were always waiting to see the lads. Just a bit fanatic in their devotion to their idols.
ReplyDeleteHow do you know how "everyone" or "no one" feels about this person?
Deletethe price of fame is amazing; how did the Beatles and their families ever live with it
ReplyDeletepossibly he really did punch her in the nose ; today he'd have restraining order
ReplyDeleterock'em , sock'em McCartney who had enough
ReplyDeletelol
Deletewhatever happened to her; did she move back to the states?
ReplyDeleteI am pretty sure she eventually did move back to Utah. I don't remember but I think it says in her book.
Deletethe Carolyn Mitchell story is disturbing in many ways to me; she went too far in her obsession with Paul but for him to punch her in the face is very upsetting; why the hell did he not call the police and have her removed on stalking or trespassing?
ReplyDeletehe's punched a couple photographers over the years too
ReplyDelete