Thia's Story

Thia Cash's stories have been shared here before, but I just find them fascinating.   In November 1970 she shared her story with the "Beatles Rule!" fan club newsletter.   This is the most of her story that I have ever seen before. 



There are 90,000 Americans residents in England, including 18,000 in London.  socially London can be extraordinarily accessible even though an intensely private place.   It is a city which exists behind closed doors, the entire system revolving around friends.   Introductions are terribly important.  There are four Liverpudlians living, working, loving and making beautiful music in London.   Their names are John, Paul, George, and Richard (Ringo).  This was the London of 1967 which I flew off towards on Independence Day (July the 4th) of that year.  At the time I knew not a single Beatle fan, and I definitely did not know a single person in the whole of England.  I was completely alone!

"For yesterday is but a dream, and tomorrow is only a vision.  But today well-lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a vision of hope.  Look well, therefore, to this day.  Such is the salutation of the dawn."

Why does a man have two ears and one mouth?  So that he can listen twice as much as he talks.   I think that I must have been given a very special blessing having chosen that particular time to go and see them.  Everything just fell into my lap so to speak, and all The Beatles and their families were in very congenial states of mind.   I'm afraid it would take me much too long to write all the things that happened during those three months I was there, but I can say that Sgt. Pepper Summer and Fall was the happiest and most memorable time of my life, and in a way, it was the high sign and a turning point in the Beatles legend.

Most of the following is fact, some is only my own personal opinion.  I also at times will relate quotes, but generally will refrain from this as it has been over three years since this happened to me, and so much was said that I don't want to state anything I am not precisely sure of.  Unfortunately, I did not have a tape recorder and even if I had I would not have used it as most of what was said was private and not in interview style.  Luckily I did have a camera and came back home with some surprisingly unusual photographs.

I arrived in London at Heathrow Airport on an early sunny morning in July, and went by bus and then taxi to the YMCA near Great Russell Square where I was to spend only a week until I could acquire my own bedsitter.  It was there I met several really super people from Scotland and Ireland, whom I went about with for the first two weeks.   I was able to take in most of the London sights with them during the day, and in the evenings we doubled up for the nightlife.  I fell in love with London but had begun to feel that I would never really even come across The Beatles.  Maybe they were only a dream, and maybe it was true what they had said about me at home -- that I was indeed quite mad!

On the 14th day of my stay (I was now living near Baker Street on Nottingham Place), my friends left to go home and Iw as again alone.  It was terrible really.  I had not the foggiest notion as to where any of the Beatles lived, except that Paul was up in a place called St. Johns Wood, which on the map looked like a gigantic place to have to comb through.   I did not even know what street he was on, though I knew I must have read the name and remembered it subconsciously.



During my three months (July, August, and September), John, Cyn, and Julian were together at Kenwood.  Little things John did and said when he was with Cyn (and I wasn't the only one to notice this) made me feel that something and was the matter between them.  Later when they separated, I was very sad at first, because I had like Cynthia very much, she was a very kind, shy, patient person.  with Yoko he has however seemed to have the freedom and outlet he needed before I think he was very restrained.  I don't know what the future holds but now that Cyn and Roberto have married.  I do hope that all continues to go well between John and Yoko.

The first time I ever met John was that day in Kenwood.  Three hours before the whole lot of them were due to leave for Athens, Greece.  I have to admit thinking back, that John was the only one I was really scared of, and it was ridiculous because sometimes I think (even though he is not the one I have the deepest feelings for), that he's the biggest softy of the four.  Certainly, he's the most gullible believe it or not.  Some newspaper people I know, just would not believe that John is quite naive about a lot of things.  He'll always be that way too.  An example is the "Two Virgins" cover.  He honestly didn't believe or realize that it could cause such a stupid mess of newsprint.

John at the time was barefoot, wearing bright purple trousers, and a black and white t-shirt decorated with necklaces.   He was sitting quite comfortably in a lazy lotus position, hugging a pillow in his favorite chair.  His hair was a bit short and fluffy with long sideburns and of course, he was wearing his famous gold-rimmed glasses.  He was a bit stern looking and quiet as he watched the going on.   I remember being very proud of myself when I made him smile like a little kid when I told him he was "beautiful."  He had a fake tattoo flower bracelet around his wrist and a flower on the top of his foot.  I have a feeling one of "The Fool" had painted in on for him.  Two of them were there then; Seemone and Marijka (Dutch husband and wife team).  They were and still are fantastic fools.  Someone is the "Rainbow Man." 

George and Ritchie were both there too, and Julian (running about in his underwear and tagging after his Dad).  Cynthia had gone over to Maureen's for a bit to keep her company (It was only a month or so before Jason was to be born).  I 'll tell you about the others in detail later, as I'll try to take on Beatle at a time for discussion. 

George and Thia at Kenwood

George Harrison -- now there's a great name for a beautiful person.  The first time we were introduced, he jumped over a table in one leaping bond to shake my hand.   He also grinned quite broadly showing his fantastic smile.  Either his parents taught him well in manners (as he was extremely polite and friendly) or he'd been smoking a little of John's special brand of cigarettes.  I think at the time it was a mixture of both.

George is a very sincere, dedicated person.  1967 was far from the beginning of his interest in India and religion.  He'd been studying for quite some time, even in school.  I remember Judy and I giving him some books of Ravi Shankar and he just could not put them down.  The greatest discussion I ever had was with him and Pattie at Kinfaun Wall Bungalow in Esher the day after they returned from San Francisco, California.

Ringo's chauffeur had offered to drive us from Sunny Heights to Kinfauns.  I was with my two French friends.  One being Josette Barnato, an 18-year-old Parisian who looked extraordinarily like a Boyd girl.  Both George and Pattie took a special liking to her.  The chauffer frequently drove all the Beatles and their families.  He definitely liked Paul the best.  He spoke of him as being very polite.  He was upset that Ringo had not spoken to him at all during the drive back.  He had been to an interview about Maureen expecting the baby and I imagine he was thinking on it.

As the driver left, we walked down the long gravel drive towards the gate.  It all seemed very strange and I was not at all prepared for what was going to happen.  I just pray that everyone can experience just once in their lives the sudden dreamlike peace and serenity I experienced.  It was almost Holy!

Pattie' orange mini-cooper was in the drive, plastered on it were the yellow and black signs advertising "Monterey Pop Festival."  Flowers were abundant and roses covered the little arbor leading to the door.  On the line at the side near the greenhouse were five pairs of George's jockey shorts!

This is my guess of what photo goes with this story.   Colorful shirt, rectangles on pants, necklace, talking to him in the yard and with a girl that looks like a Boyd sister.   All matches!

I went up to the door to ring the bell as the others wouldn't.  It really didn't help to see a printed note near the bell warning of certain death to the one who pressed it.  I was written in a type of prose.   Also, there were signs with baby's photo on it saying "Safe as Milk."  I knocked first.  There was no answer, but the television was on.  Finally, I rang...still nothing.   We looked around, snapping pictures and then went back to the gate, determined to wait.  Jennie and Paula Boyd pulled up in the driveway.  Jennie smiled at us and waved saying, "you can try the door again now."   For some reason, we decided just to wait at the gate.  The weather was getting cloudy and we had been there about an hour.  We were just about to leave when all of a sudden we saw a lean long-haired figure come from around the back of the house.  It was dressed in a screamingly wild combo of colors with rectangle designed trousers and bare feet.  The figure casually walked across the grass pretending to be inspecting his Cyprus trees near the wall.  "My God," I said to Josette, and I'm certain my eyes must have widened to twice their size.  "It's George!"  Josette wheeled around in extasy, spreading out her arms wide for him.  "France, France, I am from France.  I am a French girl!"  George grinned that grin of his and kept walking toward her, then stopped about six feet away hands on hips and said, "And I am a British boy."  "But you are GEORGE HARRISON!"  Everyone including George had a laugh.  From then on it was easy talking to him.

He told us all about his and Pattie's trip to San Francisco.  He really loved California and was surprised but impressed when I told him I was born there.  He was wearing the all seeing eye around his neck and I couldn't help but stare at it.  This got us into a discussion on India and religion.  Before that, however, I remember commenting on the great wall and asking him if it was true that Clive of India built it.  "I'm sure he had some help from his friends,"  George replied, and I know I turned pink, but he laughed.

After speaking about California, Josette asked him why he did not go to Paris more often.  He said they all tried to get around to different places, but it took up so much time.  He wanted to go through, and a few months later, he and Pattie, John and Cynthia showed up in Paris to visit Ravi.  Pattie and George were very pleased to find Josette there as well.

Josette wanted to know if he spoke any French.  "Just a little," he replied.  "Say something," she dared him.  "Say something..." he repeated thinking, "Well..." and he went off into a French sentence, like a little boy reciting his lessons for a teacher.  Josette nodded when he finished and everyone giggled.  I asked him what he had said and he really laughed.  "Can I have some milk this morning.  That is really all I know."

When we were talking about meditation, which he could talk forever on, I asked him, as someone who is greatly interested in that type of philosophy, what books he would recommend me to read as a beginner.  The first thing that came to his head was "Autobiography of a Yogi" and I shall forever be indebted to him for recommending this to me as it completely changed my life, and since that time I have thought of George only in the most appreciative way.

We all were dying to meet Pattie, and Josette asked him outright, "Could we see Pattie Boyd?"  At the time her English translations and accent were delightfully full of mistakes.  "Pattie Boyd...Pattie Boyd..Pattie BOYD."  George raised his eyebrow and smiled repeating Pattie's maiden name.  "Well, we'll see if Pattie BOYD will come out.  Just a minute."  He left us and went into the house.  After about three or four minutes he returned grinning, and behind him, about four feet was Pattie with long flowering blonde hair and a bright orange dress (a mini) with a gold buckle and also bare feet.  She signed autographs smiling all the while.  She was so very nice and shy as well.  We told her we had seen one of her commercials recently for "Dop" shampoo, where she was washing her hair under a car-wash.   Her orange mini was also featured.  She seemed very pleased, and when we asked her where she had gotten her dress she said, 'India."

All in all, we had talked to Geroge alone for about 20 minutes, and I forgot time after Pattie and he were there together.  It all seemed too beautiful and happy to leave.  I could kick myself for not having enough film to at least have snapped them together.  I told  George this and said kiddingly, "You wouldn't happen to have any film around?"  "Just 35mm," he replied and looked sorry.  "Well, that'll do if I can have the camera that goes with it."  He laughed.  He was also laughing then.  I just hope he'll always be happy (he and Pattie) as when I saw them that day.  My love to them both.

Paul at Cavendish 1967

Story was written by Tia Cash for the "Beatles Rule" fan club newsletter January 1971

 

Jane and Paul had been and were living together in St. Johns Wood the entire time I was in London.  She was on a sort of vacation until the Fall.  She had been back from her tour of the States for only a short time when I arrived.  She had been away some five months.  A long time.  According to the Biography she admitted that things were quite different.  Paul had discovered LSD and there were strange people going in and out of the house constantly.  I personally never saw that many strange people though I admit I wasn't around every day.   The only weird incident was the one night John came rather drunk.  Another was when "Mama Asher" (as Jane's mother was called), nearly drove down Paul's gave with her Mini Cooper.  She was quite a terror.

Paul's house as a regular United Nations Social Center and the people standing around the front gate would pass the time rescuing Jesus the kitten who always scampered under the gate.  Thisby had three kittens altogether--Joseph, Mary, and Jesus.  Then there was dear Martha.  Somehow I think Paul was using Martha as a child substitute and I wrote that in a letter home even before Francie S. ever came to the same conclusion.

Paul's house was homey.  In the front was the old garage with a battered shell of a car containing no engine.  The Astin Martin was always parked nearby, and then there was the famous lamp-post.  As one enters there is a beautiful spiral stairway done in white and hold.  The kitchen is down t the left (Paul has a beautiful silver tea set and at parties, he carried it himself into the main room.)  The door key was then left under the window ledge, but that had to be stopped as several people broke in to steal things (yes, it was even happening then!)

Downstairs alone he had at least five television sets.  Most not working properly.  things were rarely neat in that house as there were so many items to sort through.   The Fool had also done some work for Paul:  one of his guitars, a small mural of a forest, rainbow, and birds painted on one wall and even then there was a photo painting of a green apple hung up, across it were words in Dutch.  Also, don't think that George is the only one of the four to own a sitar. Paul had one too.

Upstairs looking at the house from the outside; the first window starting from the left on the second floor in the bathroom and the next two are Paul's bedroom.  Inside the room beneath these two windows was a large, long dresser of beautiful pine wood.  The bed then was king sized with a royal blue spread.  The rug was dark blue wall tow all and the closet was gigantic.



Going back into the hallway and past the Mahogany rail, you find the guest room.  Smaller than the other, and at the time it was done in purple and black.  The two bathrooms:  one in blue and white and the other in a deep red and white had sunken bath and shower.

The room at the top was a workroom and a recreation room, at the time, there was a piano in it, and Brian had casual meetings there.  I think it's a nursery now for Mary.  The backyard was small compared to the other Beatle homes, with a patio (it was then only slightly overrun with weeds) and the Alice in Wonderland statues were a present from Michael, who I met only once.  He had just quit a job for some studio and was occupying himself with a pack of Tarot cards.  He's quite funny and I like the Scaffold records a lot.  I think they deserve much more airspace.

In August during the building of the famous Dome in Paul's backyard, he said that the original concept was that it be a place where no words were to be spoken; a place to be a peace.   It didn't really work out exactly like that, unfortunately.  He left to visit Liverpool for two weeks, and to get away from the noise of the builders.  Afterward, he mentioned that he had hit 140 mph going up.

Paul is beautiful. His eyes are truly the windows to his soul.  The most diplomatic and charming person I've ever met.  It's easy for him to cover his true feelings.  Still, if you look well you can see the truth in his eyes.  I could listen to him talk for hours and does he ever love to talk!  The thing about him is that he's truly interested in finding out at least a little about everything and everyone.  He adapts to things quickly, and you can't help but constantly smile when he's around, even feeling the butterflies in your stomach.  The first time he ever really looked at me, he really looked at me!  He was walking and in mid-stride must have noticed from the corner of his eye, me standing there like I was almost suspended in animation.  He didn't look at anyone else though there were five or six of the English girls behind and around him, and previously it seemed he had been thinking about someone quite seriously.  He was alone. He took me in with one long glance, and I'll remember the sensation I felt then all my life.  It was like every cell in my body was being charged with electricity.  Then his eyes fixed o mine and locked there for what seemed like an eternity of vibrations thought it could have been seconds.  Then I smiled because I felt my head would burst and he smiled.  I still have the feeling that for that instant in time he was reading my mind.  I must have turned at least slightly pink although Judy said I actually turned a shade paler.

The saddest I ever saw him was the night he drove back home with Jane and a friend from Bangor, Wales after Brian had been found dead.  Both Paul and Jane's eyes were red from crying.  I do believe that he and Paul were close.

After India and Jane, he went through some very trying times and several girls.  The three noteworthy ones were Peggy Lipton (who had met in '64), Francie Schwartz and Linda Eastman See (now McCartney).  I have never met Linda personally although I have written to her and received a very appreciated and nice letter sent as thanks from Paul through Freda in Liverpool.  I can only say that I know Paul loves his whole family very much, no matter what some people may say or what had gone before.

Meeting Beatles in 1967

George with Thia

More stories that I found in the pages of "The Write Thing" November 1977 issue. This is the story of Thia Cash, who is one of the girls who met George, Ringo and John at Kenwood during the summer of 1967. Those photos that keep appearing where John is wearing velvet pants. Well...sadly the story isn't about that visit, but about her visit to Kinfauns that same summer.

My friend, Thia Cash of San Diego, California was meeting Beatles right and left that summe, topping it all off by being invited inside John's home and visiting with him and Ringo and George who were getting ready to leave together for a vacation to Greece. She wrote about one day's visit at George's home for my old "Beatles Rule" newsletter, here are some excerpts. (Written by Barbra Fenrick).

Ringo's chauffeur had offered to drive us from Sunny Heights (Ringo's home) to Kinfauns (George's). I was with my 2 French friends, one being Josette Banato, an 18 year old Parisian who looked extraordinarily like a Body girl. I went up to the door to ring the bell, as the others wouldn't. It really didn't help to see a printed not near the bell warning of certain death to the one who pressed it. It was written in a type of prose. I knocked!

There was no answer but the television was on, so I finally rang. Still nothing. Jennie and Paula Boyd pulled up in the driveway, Jennie smiled at us and waved saying, "you can try the door again now." for some reason we decided just to wait at the gate. We were just about to leave when all of a sudden I saw a lean long-haired figure come form around the back of the house dressed in a screamingly wild combo of colors with rectangle designed trousers and bare feet. The figure casually walked across the grass pretending to be inspecting his cyprus trees near the wall. "My God!" I said to Josette, and I'm certain my eyes must have widened to twice their size, "It's George!" Josette wheeled around in ecstasy, spreading out her arms wide from him. "France, France, I am from France...I am a French girl!" George grinned that grin of his and kept walking towards here, then stopped about 6 feet away hands on hips and said, "and I...am a British boy." "But you are GEORGE HARRISON!" Everyone including George had to laugh. From then on it was easy talking to him.

Josette wanted to know if he spoke any French. "Just a little," he replied. "Say something," she dared him. "Say something," he repeated thinking "Well..." and he went off into a French sentence, like a little boy reciting his lessons for a teacher . Josette nodded when he finished and everyone giggled. I asked what he had said and he really laughed, "Can I have some milk this morning, that's really all I know."

We all were dying ot meet Pattie, and Josette asked him outright. "Can we see Pattie Boyd?" At the time her English translations and accent were delightfully full of mistakes. "Pattie BOYD...Pattie BOYD," George raised his eyebrow and smiled, repeating Pattie's maiden name. "Well, we'll see if Pattie BOYD will come out...just a minute." He left us and went into the house. After about 3 or 4 minutes he returned grinning, and behind him about 4 feet was Pattie. Long flowing blonde hair...bright orange dress (mini) with a gold buckle and also bare feet. She signed autographs smiling all the while.

All in all we had talked to George for about 20 minutes, and I forgot time after Pattie and he were there together. He was always laughing then...
I just hope he'll always be as happy as when I saw them that day.

One day at Kenwood

Here is another photo from the day at John's house in Kenwood in 1967 when some fans came over when George and Ringo were there (3 for 1!!). I thought all of the photos from that visit had surfaced, but I was incorrect. Here is a "new" one of Ringo! I have also included the one of George with the same fan. I didn't realize until just now that Ringo and George are both wearing the same heart necklace that seems to have feathers on it.

This fan must have been more of a George fan than a Ringo fan. Notice how she has taken George's arm for the photo but is standing away from Ringo?