Asher a fine catch as McCartney pops into Watford for a fishing rod

The picture prompted memories not only for the sales assistant pictured with her – but also for Watford Observer photographer at the time Mike Dellow.

Mr Dellow wrote: “Seeing your recent photo of Jane Asher in the Nostalgia column, I thought you might be interested in a picture I took while working for the WO of Jane rushing from her last performance with boyfriend Paul McCartney.”

Certainly we are – and we publish it here.

So. We now know quite a lot about that production at the Palace Theatre but one question remains: What was Asher’s performance in Pygmalion actually like?

Well according to the Watford Observer’s reviewer “R.M.” it was a veritable tour de force.

In the paper of July 9, 1965, he wrote the following review:

“Any doubts in anyone’s mind whether Jane Asher’s sole right to fame is her boyfriend will be killed stone dead if that person visits the Palace Theatre during the run of Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’.

“There they will see this 19-year-old ‘veteran’ portray every mood of the central character, Eliza Doolittle, so realistically that each time she leaves the stage the audience is left waiting for her next entrance.

“Shaw’s play traces the efforts of Professor Higgins, a student of people’s speech, to train a young cockney flowergirl into the manners and speech of a duchess, and the effect such a dramatic change has on the girl.

“This change, and its effect, are the most memorable points both in the play itself and in Jane Asher’s performance.

“Shaw himself admitted that his Professor Higgins owed something to a real student of phonetics he knew.

“Higgins must be a difficult part to play, as he is rarely off-stage and likes the sound of his own voice.

“Ian White had obviously worked hard in this role and it certainly paid off.

“Shaw was a great master of characterisation and this ability is well demonstrated in the play by his cockneys, in particular Alfred Doolittle, admirably played by Kevin Lindsay.

“It may have been my imagination, but I thought I detected a tang of Mr Lindsay’s native Australian accent at one point.

“Another very versatile member of the Palace team is William Simons, who played Colonel Pickering with a number of small touches which bring a character to life.

“I once called Jeremy van Bunnens inaudible, but in recent appearances, such as a bystander and a policeman in ‘Pygmalion’, he has been just the opposite.

“In short, the opening night will not be the last time the ‘house full’ notices are put up during the run of this play.”

In that latter prediction, reviewer “R.M.” seems to have hit the nail on the head.

In a separate story in the same edition of the paper, headed “Jane is a big hit as Palace ‘Eliza’”, the Observer reported: “There have been ‘quite phenomenal’ advance bookings to see Jane Asher in the second week of Shaw’s ‘Pygmalion’ at the Palace Theatre, said the theatre’s public relations officer Mr John Stanley this week.

“Mr Stanley told the Observer that Monday evening is a sell-out and both houses for tomorrow (Saturday) [July 10, 1965] are almost sold out.

“The schools’ matinee on Wednesday afternoon is also sold out, he said.

“Large numbers of block bookings are coming in for tonight (Friday) he said, adding that the theatre was expecting to use the ‘House Full’ notices outside the building on several other nights as well.”

Whether any of this had anything to do with a certain Mr McCartney is uncertain – but one thing is for sure: wherever he went, a furore was sure to follow, as this story on the Watford Observer’s front page two weeks later indicates.

Headed “When Beatle Paul went shopping...” it reads: “Beatle Paul McCartney caused a minor sensation in Watford on Saturday afternoon by calmly walking into a shop to buy a fishing rod as a present for his father.

“Within minutes he was spotted by enthusiastic fans and besieged for autographs. Meanwhile, un-noticed, a thief taking advantage of the disturbance, stole a fishing reel from the shop.

“Director Mrs Irene White was behind the fishing tackle department in her shop – Pets’ Pantry, High Street – when Paul entered and said: ‘I want to buy a present for my Dad. He is a keen fisherman.’

“He barely had time to answer ‘yes’ to Mrs White’s question ‘Is it Paul McCartney?’ when girls – and men and women! – crowded into the shop to catch a glimpse of him.

“A woman was heard to remark: ‘I’d like to buy some rabbit food – I haven’t got a rabbit but I must see Paul.’

“Another said: ‘I don’t want to buy anything – I just want to be in here with him.’

“Amid this excitement, Paul, unruffled, signed over 100 autographs as he looked at various fishing rods and finally made his selection. Disentangling himself, he walked from the shop to a car parked outside.

“Mrs White commented afterwards: ‘He was a very nice young man who carried himself with calm and dignity throughout the whole upheaval. Even while he was selecting a rod as a present for his father he continued to sign autographs and didn’t refuse a single request.’”

Did you get an autograph from Paul McCartney at Pets’ Pantry that day? Do you still have it? What do you remember about the incident. Please write and let us know.

This Nostalgia column was first published in the Watford Observer on July 19, 2013. The next Nostalgia column – with information about flash flooding in 1964, an intriguing cigarette promotion from 1901, more on the Queen Mother's visit to North Mymms in 1963 plus the Siege of Chenies Manor (1970) and a puzzling tortoise film – can be found in tomorrow’s Watford Observer (dated July 26, 2013) or read online here from 4pm next Thursday.

If you have anything to add – or would like to tell us anything you think our readers may enjoy about Watford’s history – we are always pleased to hear from you. Contact Nostalgia, by clicking here watfordnostalgia@london.newsquest.co.uk

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