21 Jun 2014

Lennon cousin remembers Beatles visit

11:35 am on 21 June 2014

It's 50 years on Saturday since the Beatles arrived in Wellington for their one and only tour of New Zealand.

They spent eight days in New Zealand, and would perform seven shows in Wellington, Auckland, Dunedin and Christchurch to tens of thousands of screaming fans.

The Beatles New Zealand Tour 1964

Twitter hashtag: #BeatlesNZ64

The Beatles and members of the Te Pataka concert party at Wellington Airport, 21 June 1964.

The Beatles and members of the Te Pataka concert party at Wellington Airport, 21 June 1964. Photo: Morrie Hill / Alexander Turnbull Library

A family connection was a part of the attraction of New Zealand for one of the Beatles.

John Lennon's New Zealand family includes his second cousin, Upper Hutt resident Lynda Mathews. She grew up reading about her English cousin in letters, and got to meet him for the first time in Wellington's St George Hotel.

Lynda Mathews holding the photo with John Lennon.

Lynda Mathews holding the photo with John Lennon. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

Lynda Mathews holding her photo with John Lennon, her second cousin.

Lynda Mathews holding her photo with John Lennon, her second cousin. Photo: RNZ / Diego Opatowski

"Getting through the crowd was really hard because the police had to take us through and girls were spitting and obviously there was anger that we were getting through and they couldn't. Then we were just sitting in their bedrooms and drinking and talking. And they all came in to see me as they came out of having had a shower," she said.

"He just kissed me and said 'hello, love' straight away. He spoke of seeing my sister and about how Aunt Mimi was getting on. Because Aunt Mimi at that stage had been here with my parents for a week nearly."

Fifty years later, Lynda Mathews finds the experience more surreal than she did then.

"Just holding onto the memories. It's been good to share with other relatives and remember those who aren't here with us as well. Just remember the really good times about it and that the music still goes on and on."

In the Beatles' Wellington shows, the audience noise reached 106 decibels. But as Paul McCartney commented to Bob Rogers - who was reporting on the tour - he found the New Zealand crowds mild.

"They were very different from Australia. Because Australians I think are much wilder people anyway, you know. It's very exciting to play a show in Australia.

"But here it was a different kind of thing because they're all very conservative. It was okay though! I mean it's nothing to complain about. Mind you, the New Zealand people thought it was wild."

Fans during Beatles concert at Wellington Town Hall.

Fans during Beatles concert at Wellington Town Hall. Photo: The Dominion Post Collection Alexander Turnbull Library

Ringo Starr told Bob Rogers he was was taken with the haka and even took some credit for it.

ROGERS: "What are your reactions to Maori, the natives of New Zealand?"

RINGO STARR: "I thought they were great, I liked them. That may be why I thought they were great. The singing was marvellous. (Hums) Ho! Ho Hoo! Remember that bit?"

BOB ROGERS: "That was a haka, that was a haka, it's a war dance."

PAUL MCCARTNEY: "No that was Ringo, that was Ringo."

RINGO STARR: "That was me actually, Bob."

The Beatles played the same 11 songs at every show.

Wendy Tolley was 33-years-old when she attended a concert in Wellington and remembers how the screaming from the audience seemed endless.

"It was an opportunity not to be missed. There was talk everywhere about them. I suppose that's why the police presence was there, wondering if anything would erupt. But it was quite unnerving to walk into the ground floor of the Old Town Hall and see all these policemen standing around the walls", she said.

"As soon as the playing started everyone stood on their seats. My husband and I were just sitting there quietly and thinking 'we can't do this, we can't stand on our seats!' But you couldn't see a thing if you didn't so we were all standing on our seats."

John Lennon meeting his second cousin, Lynda Mathews, at the Hotel St George, Wellington.

John Lennon meeting his second cousin, Lynda Mathews, at the Hotel St George, Wellington. Photo: SUPPLIED

On 28 June the Beatles - and their reporter friend Bob Rogers - flew out of Christchurch back to Australia - ending their first and only visit to New Zealand.

John Lennon's note to Lynda Mathews.

John Lennon's note to Lynda Mathews. Photo: SUPPLIED

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