Hey Grandude | Page 2 | Fab Forum | The Beatles Bible

I didn’t go to Abbey Road this time, but I did walk past the Royal Albert Hall:

"And though the holes were rather small, they had to count them all…"

Am in London for the Paul McCartney book signing. More to follow 👍 pic.twitter.com/6PdA6PAgZh

— The Beatles Bible 🍏 (@beatlesbible) September 6, 2019

So yeah, I met Paul on Friday (I would have posted earlier but haven’t been able to get to a computer till now). I got to Waterstones at 2pm, with two hours to go, and there were already around 80 people in the queue. The first guy got there just before 10am:

First in the queue lads!! WE’RE GONNA BE BESTIES!!! Paul McCharmly awaits! #heygrandude #PaulMcCartney @WaterstonesPicc @Paul McCartney pic.twitter.com/mWhbYBpJBl

— Gordo 🎲 (@Gordyjs_97) September 6, 2019

In the queue they gave out wristbands. They also checked our IDs to make sure we hadn’t bought a ticket on eBay. They said they’d turn away anyone caught doing so, though I didn’t see that happen. I did hear that someone sold a ticket for £1,700, so I hope the purchaser got their money back. According to Waterstones they sold 125 tickets for the event.

https://twitter.com/beatlesbib…..1565916163

At around 3pm all the people with kids were invited inside. I think a local school had a book reading by Paul beforehand, then the ticket holders with kids got their books signed. Then it was our turn.

https://www.facebook.com/Beatl…..350271332/

Going in! No phones allowed though ☹️ pic.twitter.com/LjVlD8LioX

— The Beatles Bible 🍏 (@beatlesbible) September 6, 2019

The signing was in the children’s books section, up a couple of floors. Security was pretty tight, with onlookers kept well out of the way, and only wristband-wearers allowed anywhere near Paul. We had to put phones in bags, and leave bags and coats in a drop-off area. I kept my phone on me, as did a few others, but I was spotted after snapping this pic of Paul and told to return my phone to the bags area.

Eek! pic.twitter.com/Fx6MgSgbrP

— The Beatles Bible 🍏 (@beatlesbible) September 6, 2019

Coincidentally, the guy in the picture (not Paul) was the one who’d been first in the queue. He told me on Twitter he was a bit annoyed when the people with kids were invited inside, but didn’t seem too bitter.

When I returned my phone I grabbed a copy of Riding So High from my bag to give to Paul. I kept it on me till I got to the front of the queue, then his minder spotted it and took it off me. I got it back straight after though. The minders were stern but not heavy-handed.

I was going to tell Paul about the book, hoping that he’d accept it. When I couldn’t do that everything I’d prepared to say went out of the window. Paul started off by shaking my hand, and we made smalltalk – I asked how he was, he said he’d just been on holiday, so I asked where he’d been. “To the Hamptons. In Long Island, you know. It was with all the family… a bit of a Hey Grandude holiday.”

And that was it. It wasn’t hurried, but I didn’t have loads of time to meet him. Some people were *really* emotional – there was an Italian guy in tears while talking to him, and a young girl from a London fashion school (St Martin’s, I think), who babbled something about Stella and asking him to take part in her final show. But everyone was really cool, there was a good vibe in the queue.

Kathryn Durst was sitting at another table, and most people took their books to her afterwards for a signature. I didn’t do this – I just wanted Paul’s autograph. I still have mixed feelings about it – it must have been quite hurtful for her to see people just walking off and ignoring her, but Paul was the reason I was there. I’m not planning to sell my book, but for me it would have been devalued if the page had two signatures rather than just his. Here it is:

Ah, that was great. I shook his hand and we had a little chat about his recent holiday in the Hamptons. "In Long Island, you know. It was a bit of a Hey Grandude holiday with all the family." pic.twitter.com/e9vVG7unP7

— The Beatles Bible 🍏 (@beatlesbible) September 6, 2019

There was a crowd of people at the shop’s back entrance, waiting for Paul to leave. Apparently he did so at around 5.30pm.