1973 -- Another Chapter in the Adventures of....

Ringo at his office at the St. James Apple office in 1973

The Apple Offices where the story takes place

1973---Another Chapter in the Adventures of...

By Kris Spackman

With a Little Help From My Friends 

October 1975

    For the benefit of new members, in 1973 some friends and I were lucky enough to spend five wonderful months in Merry Ould in London, in which many lovely adventures passed our way.

     And so continuing in the backward tradition of the eastside: the story of George and the office party.

     T'was the day before the official Apple Christmas party, and we arrived as usual at the offices to find the place buzzing with activity. There was to be an informal office Christmas party/luncheon, carefully planned by our pals and Apple kitchen Cooks: Angela and Margo (Tony King's secretary and ex-Apple Scruff.) So while things began to move inside, Marie, Kathy, Pattie, and I took our positions on the steps outside to wait for Ringo, who Ang assured us was to arrive "shortly."

     Every few minutes or so, either she or Margo would pop out to chat, and then Margo totally surprised us by bringing out four glasses of white wine in elegant, curving wine glasses!  Toasting each other, her and the New Year, we giggled over the prospect of being picked up for public intoxication as a couple of cops who directed traffic out front on busy St James Street. The fact that the wine was our breakfast didn't help, but we certainly enjoyed it.  Next, Ang bombarded us with plates of turkey, vegetables, and sweets. I'm sure the gang inside couldn't have been enjoying themselves half as much as we were in our rather chilly December picnic. 

    But as if that weren't enough, moments later, Tony King opened the door and invited us in (maybe he  was afraid Marla'd add some additional stains to her mayonnaise stain left from one of our waiting lunches.)

     Yes again! Never one to refuse a promising invitation, we trooped inside, buoyed by the wine and Ang's happy smile. It was such a great feeling to be welcomed by most of the Apple people, and further delighted when Robin (Ringo's furniture partner) Cruikshank's secretary, gave us a lovely Christmas card from Robin and his assistant, Craig.

     The St James Street office consists of a main reception room stretching almost the length of the building and decorated with Apple albums. Off to its side are Tony King's office and numerous accountants' offices, which face Benet Street to the side. The kitchens were in the basement, Ringo's, Neil's, Robin's, and Hilary Gerard's offices were all upstairs on that secluded second floor.

    In Tony's office, tables full of food and drink were set up, and most of the employees were crammed in, sitting in circles on chairs, couches, floors, wherever there was room, and we were eating and talking.  Tony steered us to the food line and instructed us to help ourselves. We did mostly to wine, which is a terrific remedy for nerves. We mingled as best we could, thoroughly enjoying ourselves.

     At one point, Kathy and Mar had their heads together with Peter Bendry, plotting on  their getting into the party the next night. Pattie and I were having a really nice chat with Robin, who is one of the nicest people I've ever met. I stood facing the doorway, Pattie with her back to it. I looked up and suddenly went cold all over, literally frozen to that spot for who should be standing in said very doorway?  None other than ol' Harri G. himself! Have you ever tried to remain calm, cool, and collected when you can hear your heart pounding away like a semi barreling down the freeway?! And the fact that your legs continue to support you is not only a total amazement for yourself than an other other scientific phenomena!! Through gritted teeth and a pasty smile, I mumbled subtly, "Pattie!!! George!!!!" And the two frozen zombies carried on a perfectly normal conversation with Robin.

 The object of all these "ice capades", meantime, continued to stand for a minute or two in the doorway scanning the goings on with that "take it all in at a glance" Harrison stare. He was wearing jeans, a red plaid heavy jacket, and a darling denim one. A moment later, he was back in the lobby where he was sacosted by Tony King, who threw his arms around him in greeting. The next instant he was gone (he went upstairs, we guessed.) And who could blame him after all that?

     Somehow, Mar and Kath had totally missed him, and without being terribly obvious, we managed to get the word to them that he was there, and then pass it to Angela, who disappeared to summon Anna Maria.  The party carried on, and somehow, so did we. Shortly after Terry Doran, sporting a 10-gallon hat, popped in and joined one of the groups. And suddenly there was George again, strolling in, smiling and nodding hello to his employees as he moved to join Terry's group. When he when his glance fell on us, we knew he knew we were "unofficial", but he nodded and smiled just the same. Whew!

    Once again, they were only in the room for a short time, and as they left to go upstairs, the party began to slowly break up. By this time Anna Maria had arrived, and we somehow got the word he'd only be a "short time."  As we drifted back into the lobby, who should we find, but Maureen and her mother, which meant obviously that Ringo had arrived and obviously slipped past us!

     Gathering up coats and all our miscellaneous junk, we returned to our steps to wait and see what would happen next. We sure didn't have long to wait. In 15 minutes, he was back down, bopping around the lobby until Terry joined him, and out they came. One of the drivers had taken his car, so we couldn't imagine where they were going to go. He said, "Hello", and suddenly amazed us by standing out into the street and across to the other side. A bit scary too, since you usually took your life in your hands if you cross St James in the crosswalk. Terry followed, and off they went down Jermaine Street towards Piccadilly. 

    Mar and Kath, meanwhile, had been across the street at Mokaris, a restaurant we often went to, and we dashed over to see if they'd seen him pass. They hadn't.  Anna's efforts to get out of work for the remainder of the day had failed; she then caught a cab back to her office, and, as a cab driver headed down Piccadilly Street, nearing the Circus, who should she see? But you guessed it -- George, all smiles, gabbing away with Terry. 

    A long afternoon passed by, the only point of interest occurring when Maureen and the mother-in-law took their leave around four. Neal, son of Sid (our dear friend from Morgan's studio days) turned up looking for us. Good ol' Sid knew just where to send him! He no sooner sat down when he got an additional surprise as Elton John showed up and was unfriendly!  He went into Tony K's office, and moments later, Ringo came down to see him.

    Shortly after, Neal took Mar, Kath, and Pattie round the corner to the pub for a quickie. And of course, it was at that point that George decided to return. Yours truly was comfortably curled up on the steps and engrossed in the Evening Standard crossword puzzle and almost missed him completely. He smiled and said "Hello", and I'm sure he was thinking, "Well, it takes all kinds."

     As he went inside, I watched until he disappeared up the stairs again, then made a mad dash to get the girls. Pattie came back with me. Then Anna Maria and Elena arrived, and suddenly, more people began to arrive. Keith Moon's girlfriend with a bunch of little kids,  Mickey Dolanz's and his wife, Apple employees with their kids. And we came to the conclusion that the party was still going on.

 Ang popped out for a moment to quickly report that Tony King was peeved because he had to Christmas shop for George and Ringo, and also that Harry Nillson was upstairs (it would therefore be a long night we thought ). Maureen and mom-in-law also made a reappearance, and Angela, worn out, caught a cab home.

     It was nearly 8pm when Peter, Ringo's driver, came out to load up the car, telling us that it would only be a few minutes. Was he true to his word! Almost before he'd gotten the words out of his mouth, George was in the lobby. While we scrambled to ditch the Cokes and sandwiches we were dining on, he came strolling out with Terry. He looked first at Anna and Pattie on one side and said, "Hello. How are you?" Then Elena and I with a "Hello". He didn't stop, but added, "Well, I'll see you...." And looked at me. All I could manage was a smile and say "Soon."  We watched him walk around the corner to his car. Of course, being that we expected him to drive off, he pulled a fast one on us and suddenly got back out of the car, but was only to go quickly back inside to give something to Sarge. And with the goodbye, he was on his way. Terry at the wheel.

     Watching him go, I was suddenly numb with exhaustion, but too happy to care. I just couldn't believe we'd seen him five times in one day. Following this, Anna, Kathy, and Pattie decided to call it a night and head for home, while Mar, Elena, and I opted to wait for Ringo. Mother-in-law had come down and got in the car, so we figured he couldn't be too much longer, and poor ol' Peter, he got stuck sitting in the car keeping her company. 

    By 8:20, Ringo Mo and Nilsson were in the lobby, where they lingered chatting for a few minutes. Ringo looked just adorable, all in black, except for a purple shirt. As always, his solemn nod and "good night, girls," first to us, then to Elena, just tickled and delighted us. Harry accompanied them to the car, where they talked for a few minutes more, teasing Mo about something and laughing. Nilsson kissed her goodbye, and they too were finally on their way. 

    The party was still going on upstairs. As he returned to the building, Harry said "hello" to us, and really surprised me by telling me that I was a "smiler."  With one George and one Ringo around, who can help it, I ask you?