Jane & Paul: A Love Story

(cont.)
   

Jane Asher with Michael Caine in 'Alfie'Jane was appearing at the Bristol Old Vic as Barbara Cahoun in John Dighton's 'The Happiest Days Of Your Life', when Paul visited Bristol to see her. While there he noticed the name on a shop, 'Rigby & Evans Ltd, Wine & Spirit Shippers', which he says gave him the surname for the song 'Eleanor Rigby.'

Rumours of the couple getting married were always denied by them, but the headline on Jack Bentley's show business page in the Sunday Mirror of 15 August 1965 read:

"Says Jane: 'Yes, I AM Marrying Paul McCartney.'"

When Bentley visited Jane he said there were rumours that Paul and Jane were already married. "No, I'm not Paul's wife," she told him, "But yes, we ARE going to get married."

When it was mentioned that the millions of girl fans would be dreading the news, she commented, "If it's any consolation to them, we won't be married for a while yet, but when it happens we've got a family planned. First we want a boy and then - come what may.

"There's no particular reason why we are not getting married right away, except that we're both pretty young. Paul is only twenty-three." Jane was eighteen at the time of the interview.

Asked if her marriage to Paul would affect her career as an actress, she said, "I shan't give up my career unless it interferes with our being together. Although I like acting, I'm not one of those dedicated actresses who would pine away if they couldn't perform. I get as much enjoyment out of good plays and good music."

Jane helped Paul to find the five-story Victorian house in Cavendish Avenue, St John's Wood, which they moved into in 1966. Jane decorated the house and always kept it in tip-top condition. Unfortunately, it was rumoured that during a spring-cleaning session a number of original early Lennon and McCartney songs were lost forever when she threw away a notebook full of lyrics while emptying a cupboard.

It was Jane who, in June 1966, persuaded Paul to buy High Farm, a 183-acre farm in Machrihanish, Campbeltown, Scotland, suggesting it would be a good idea for them to have a remote retreat to which they could escape from the pressures of being constantly in the public eye.

She embarked on a five-month tour of America in 1967, appearing with the Bristol Old Vic in 'Romeo and Juliet' in Boston, Washington and Philadelphia. Paul flew over to America to celebrate her twenty-first birthday, which took place during the tour. It was during this trip that he conceived the idea of 'Magical Mystery Tour.'

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