“ If this carries on we’ll have to go!“
I was 16 years old, I was in the first year of my job as a cashier. I went with my friend Lynne, we were colleagues and went to things together outside of work. You could choose either the Gaumont or the City Hall and we chose The Gaumont because the seats were more comfortable. I must’ve known about it from seeing a poster in town I imagine, its not like now, they didn’t tell you on the radio or the television, or the internet of course.
I don’t remember queuing [for the tickets] for long, if it had been more than half an hour I wouldn’t have bothered, I’d have thought ‘we’ll see them next time’.
The reception was amazing, Paul McCartney tried to speak but the screaming drowned him out. He lowered his hands like this [gestures] to get the screaming to stop but he gave up. Just shrugged his shoulders, he looked annoyed to be honest, it was ridiculous really, no one could hear them.
They played for 3 hours but we couldn’t hear a word, I said to Lynne if this carries on we’ll have to go! We really wanted to hear them, we loved them, but it felt like a waste of money, I was looking at these girls screaming and thinking “you’ve paid to hear them!” I couldn’t understand it. I wasn’t on a big wage, it was my first year of work and although the tickets [prices] were not like now it was still, you know, I wasn’t earning enough to waste. It was stupid, as soon as they came on everyone goes “Paul” screaming.
Interviewer: did it feel genuine or like they were doing what was expected of them?
Angela: yes everywhere else was doing it, I didn’t understand it. I loved them up to the end, but I can’t play them now as I have moved and have neighbours, I don’t want to disturb them but I phone in requests to Paulette on BBC Sheffield.
This is part of a growing archive of Sheffield Beatles memories. You can read more stories here: fanarchivebeatlessheffield.uk
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