Worksop gran sells Beatles autographs from 60s Mansfield show for more than £4,000

Pamela Timson, of Worksop was aged 12 when she waited for hours outside a stage door for one of her idols to appear so she could ask them to sign her autograph book.

She was among a huddle of young fans gathered outside the Granada Theatre in Mansfield, when one of the Fab Four emerged on March 26, 1963.

Pamela thrust her book into the air and was delighted when it was taken and returned with the full set of signatures of Paul, George John and Ringo.

The gran has now received a windfall just before her 70th birthday after her autograph books sold at Hansons Auctioneers for £3,400 on Tuesday.

The total price paid by an anonymous private international bidder, including buyer’s premium and VAT, was £4,420.

Pamela, who had been one of only a hundred people to watch the band perform that night, said: "I’m pleased someone will now get to enjoy them, just as I have.

“I was standing outside the stage door at the Granada on March 26, 1963, with friends, hoping against hope that someone would pop outside for a cigarette break.

“It happened that night when one of The Beatles appeared. Sadly, I hadn’t worked out who was who at that time and it all happened so quickly.

"They’d only just released Please Please Me and were yet to have a number one hit.

"And though one of the Beatles took the book away to be signed, someone else brought it back.

“Thank you, whichever Beatle you were, for taking my book and getting it signed. Only later as their success grew did I realise I was the owner of something very special.

“Now as I mark my 70th birthday and look at my autograph book, I realise how lucky I was to be a teenager at that time.

“In 1962, I discovered the Granada Theatre in Mansfield. It was a few miles from my home and regularly presented live music shows.

"I could now see my favourites in person for the princely sum of 6 shillings and 6 pence in old money.”

Pamela was also able to get signatures of other 60s musical legends including Adam Faith, Roy Orbison and The Walker Brothers, for her autograph book.

Pamela, a retired building society customer advisor, added: "I was lucky.

"I got to see many of my favourites and some of their autographs are in my book including Del Shannon, Brian Hyland and Dion DiMucci.

"Dion and The Belmonts were on the bill for Buddy Holly’s final concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, in 1959.

“The autographs have been stuck in my safe for years. I’ve always wondered just how much they would make at auction.”

Charles Hanson, owner of Hansons Auctioneers, said: “I’m delighted a moment of kindness from a mystery member of the Fab Four has led to a successful result for Pamela.

"Music memorabilia is a booming sector with keen collectors worldwide.”

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