Living History

--and she loves me?

It’s 1964 and our family of four is returning to Australia after visiting grandparents in New Zealand. We climb on the 28 passenger Fokker Friendship and take our seats. Many eyes are turning to the back of the plane. There is an excited murmur through the passengers. "That’s the Beatles" someone whispers.

The aircraft vibrates and rattles into the air for the trip to Auckland. With much craning of necks for a view the plane crosses close to the volcanic peaks of the central North Island.

As the plane starts it’s descent into the airport the airhostess asks our five year old daughter Kaye if she would help give out the wrapped boiled lollies to all the people on board. This helps to unblock the ears caused by altitude changes.

At the rear of the plane Kaye shyly offers lollies to John, Paul , Ringo and George. As George takes his sweet John says to Kaye "Go on give George a kiss"!! Kaye steps back, coyly shaking her head. George says "She loves me NO!NO!NO!" paraphrasing the Beatles’ hit ‘She loves you Yeah!Yeah!Yeah!’

The accompanying photo appeared over the same words headlining the New Zealand Herald newspaper of the day.

Unhappily during the week prior to the Sydney Olympics, Kaye was working for the Sydney council, sitting on the footpath counting cars and noting registrations, when a car mounted the path, at Newtown, and smashed Kaye to bits against a brick wall. She survived a nine hour operation only for us to turn off her life support to a brain-dead body seven days later. This day was the 1st anniversary of Lady Di’s tragedy.

Ron, Queensland

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