Although they were rarely seen in public as a group by April 1969, on this day The Beatles took part in one of their final photo sessions together.
It took place in two locations, with three photographers taking pictures of the group. The first location was at the Madingley Club on Willoughby Road in East Twickenham in London, followed by more shots taken at number 4 Ducks Walk where they boarded a boat on the River Thames.
The Beatles and the photographers took three vehicles to the location – John Lennon’s Rolls-Royce, a white Mercedes, and a Humber Snipe. The first photographs were taken with The Beatles leaning against the Rolls-Royce, with the Thames behind them.
A crowd soon gathered, and The Beatles obligingly signed autographs. Afterwards the group moved to the second location, where they were photographed climbing into a rowing boat, the Fritz Otto Maria Anna. They rowed to a small island in the middle of the river, from which they waved to the camera on the river bank.
Following this day, The Beatles had photo sessions for the Get Back album in May 1969, the Abbey Road cover on 8 August 1969, and at at Tittenhurst Park on 22 August.
Also on this day...
- 2011: Publishers announced for The Lennon Letters
- 1973: US single release: My Love by Paul McCartney and Wings
- 1970: Apple denies that Paul McCartney has left The Beatles
- 1967: Paul McCartney flies from Denver to Los Angeles
- 1965: UK single release: Ticket To Ride
- 1965: Filming: Help!
- 1964: Filming: A Hard Day’s Night
- 1963: Live: Gaumont State Cinema, Kilburn, London
- 1963: Television: Tuesday Rendezvous
- 1963: Radio: Pop Inn
- 1961: Live: Top Ten Club, Hamburg
Want more? Visit the Beatles history section.
Is it the session during which the unused cover to the unreleased “Get Back” album was made?
No, George has a little mustache in that photo, he’s clean-shaven here.
Hello,
Can I obtain copies of a couple of the images of the boat trip to the island? Who owns the copyright?