By Staff reporter
First published in the Sydney Morning Herald on June 12, 1964
Drenched Beatle fans praised by their 'guards'
Beatle fans saw little of their idols through the drenching rain at Kingsford Smith Airport yesterday, but were compensated by official praise for their good behaviour. As the 700 young welcomers and their 400 police supervisors departed in the wake of the Beatles, the airport manager, Mr G. Inglis, said:
"The teenagers' behaviour was magnificent. To my knowledge there was not one single incident. Their whole behaviour was just what was required. We hope the same thing will happen every time the Beatles pass through the airport."
"Outside the Beatles' hotel, the Sheraton, in Macleay Street, Potts Point, 300 fans awaited in the rain."Credit: Frank Burke
"Beatles most co-operative"
The Assistant Metropolitan Superintendent of Police, Superintendent J. Wright, said: "No police action was taken. None was necessary. Everything went according to plan. The Beatles were most co-operative and both the Beatles and the fans were satisfied."
Before the Beatles arrived from Hong Kong at 7.40 a.m. Superintendent Davies, who was in charge of the 50 Commonwealth police at the airport, gave repeated warnings over a public address system. Anyone who broke through the barriers would be prosecuted, he said.
"You can make as much noise as you like," he said. "You can sing as loud as you like. We don't care what you do as long as you consider the safety of your fellow public. Please help us to help you to see the Beatles. We are hear to prevent injury."
Customs and quarantine officials took less than five minutes aboard the B.O.A.C. airliner to clear the Beatles.
Then they emerged into the driving rain - John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and their stand-in drummer, Jimmy Nicol. Sheltered by capes and big umbrellas, they mounted a raised platform on a table-top truck to the accompaniment of screams from teenage girls and the waving of rain-bedraggled home-made welcoming banners.
"We love you Beatles," said the banners. "Welcome Beatles," and "Beatles 4 Ever." At least 200 of the welcomers had waited all night. For hours they had been singing Beatle songs and rehearsing their screams.
John Lennon, a reporter, Jimmy Nicol, George Harrison and Paul McCartney on the balcony of the Beatles' hotel room.Credit: Norman Herfort
George Harrison loses umbrella
As the truck drove slowly past the crowd barriers a gust of wind carried away Beatle George Harrison's umbrella. His hat streamed with water. Young girls predominated in the rain-soaked crowd. May appeared to be 12 or 13 years old.
"Beatles, I love you," one girl screamed, as tears and rain poured down her face. As the truck drew away from the crowd another girl shouted: "Come back. Come back. I love you. I love you."
The Beatle party transferred to another car, and as it moved away hundreds surged across the tarmac within the barriers. Dozens slipped and fell.
George Harrison peers out at rainy Sydney as the Beatles' car leaves the Sheraton Hotel. Credit: Laurie Shea
300 wait at hotel
Outside the Beatles' hotel, the Sheraton, in Macleay Street, Potts Point, 300 fans awaited in the rain with 40 watchful policemen and six private security guards. They had a three-second view of the Beatles as their cars swung quickly into the hotel's car park. A wall of rain-coated policemen immediately blocked off the entrance to the park as the cars disappeared.
Brian Frankham, 17, of Chetwynd Street, Merrylands, managed to throw a letter from his six-year-old sister Jeanette into the first car. Jeanette wrote inviting the Beatles to visit her home. She addressed the letter to "Georeg, John, Ringo, Pual, yeah, yeah, yeah," and included her phone number.
Schoolgirls jump sing, chant
About 100 jumping schoolgirls watched the Beatles' eight-floor balcony as they sang Beatles hits or chanted, "We want the Beatles," "We want Paul," and "Beatles come outside."
Three or four hands waved from a balcony at the side of the building set off a chorus of squeals, though no one was sure it was the Beatles. A few minutes later the Beatles appeared on the balcony overlooking Macleay Street, and the squeals began again. George Harrison wore a long shirt and a towel instead of trousers. They soon withdrew to the warmth of their suite and told hotel staff they wanted to sleep until 3 p.m.
The Beatles arrived in Sydney accompanied by their road manager, assistant road manager, Press manager, general manager, and John Lennon's Aunty Mimi.