Give Me a Chance Read online

It had taken all this to make me realize that I wanted to go to university and study English, which I loved. Most of all, I wanted to be a writer and to be involved in comedy. I knew all that would be impossible if I were travelling here, there and everywhere with the Lennons. After a while, every hotel and city, no matter how luxurious, would begin to look the same. Four walls are four walls, no matter what country you’re in.

  I didn’t want to be transported from hotel to hotel in limos with blacked-out windows, surrounded by police and bodyguards. The previous night I’d had nightmares about the mob storming the suite, and I’d always be anxious about something like that happening again, as it very likely would. And next time we might not be so lucky.

  I’d witnessed at first hand some of the downsides of how celebrities live. I’d seen how John and Yoko could never go out on the spur of the moment, even for a walk in a park on a sunny day. They couldn’t just pop into a shop, or go to a film or visit a friend. And it would be hard for anyone who travelled with them, too, because understandably they craved company. Nobody wants to be alone in strange hotel rooms.

  It dawned on me that’s why celebrities have entourages. Just about all of them are surrounded by people: their employees, friends – or both, like Derek. They become the star’s substitute family and often stay with them for years. I guess if stars can’t get out into the world, then they have to bring the world to them. But that can be suffocating at times too.

  It was an honour to be asked to join them, one that I would always treasure. But this taste of the rock-star experience had been just enough. The past eight days had been an unbelievable adventure, but I couldn’t see myself living that way for weeks, months or possibly years. Stars often have to live their lives like that, but I didn’t. I wanted to begin my own world.

  I think Derek, both a writer himself and incredibly kind, understood. He asked, “In that case, would you accept a gift from John? I’m sure he’d like to give you some money.”

  I surprised even myself but I shook my head. “Thanks, but I couldn’t accept money. I did it all for John and Yoko, and because I believe in peace. And I was rewarded enough by meeting amazing people like you and Tommy Smothers and Petula Clark!”

  Derek insisted I take some money for all my hard work. “Students can always find a use for it.” I couldn’t argue with him there. He also gave me a kiss and a copy of Yellow Submarine which John had been playing all week. Derek told me to contact him if I came to London. I assured him he could bet on that!

  I took Kyoko out for a last ice-cream to say goodbye. I didn’t make a big deal out of it because I didn’t want to make her feel sad; I could see she was excited about moving on and that was good. I’d grown very close to that beautiful child and I wished her only happiness. After finishing our treat, we went back upstairs to find the Lennons.

  John was in the bedroom, packing. I thanked him for his incredible offer but told him that regretfully I wouldn’t be coming with them. He nodded, thought for a moment, then asked, “Do you have an autographed photo of me?”

  This was so unexpected that I laughed and the words were out of my mouth before I realized: “Why? Are times so hard that you have to give them away?”

  John grinned and reminded me that I hadn’t got the autograph I’d asked him for on the first day. He rummaged round and found an 8-inch x 10-inch glossy black-and-white photo of him and Yoko lying in bed, entwined. He fetched Yoko and they signed it together: “To Gail. Thank you!! Peace and love. Yoko Ono and John Lennon”.

  Yoko said she couldn’t thank me enough and asked for my address so she’d know where to reach me. Then she went to help Kyoko get ready, and I was left alone with John. I was going to find it hard to say goodbye, almost impossible. I didn’t know if I would ever see him again – but I didn’t dare let myself think about that.

  I started to help John with his packing. Sadly I stowed his guitar in its case. Looking into his warm brown eyes, I asked how I could ever thank him for everything he’d done for me.

  John and Yoko had let me participate in their Bed-In; it was the first time I had ever felt useful and needed. I’d had time to get to know them and lots of other extraordinary people. John had also made me a gift of his handwritten lyrics of “Give Peace a Chance”, which were already propped up on my bedroom dresser at home, waiting to be framed.

  Most of all, John had believed in me and given me confidence to believe that I could be a writer or anything else I wanted to be. Now that I’d sold my first article, I couldn’t wait to start writing more. I knew I was going to be OK. Both John and my parents had taught me an important lesson this week: it was all up to me. From now on, life was going to be what I made it. I was grateful for that.

  John smiled at me. “You’re beautiful.”

  No one had ever said that to me before. It felt wonderful. He said he would see me again – and I wanted to believe that. But this was different from all the other times; I knew I wouldn’t be coming back to the hotel the next day, saying good morning to George and sailing into the suite. How would I ever get close to the Lennons again, once they’d moved on? Lightning doesn’t strike twice, and I’d be greedy to hope for it.

  Noticing I looked glum, John took something out of his bag and handed it to me. It was a card with an address and phone number on it. He explained, “No matter where in the world I am, if you want me, they’ll always know how to get hold of me.”

  I was stunned, but even this didn’t reassure me. I was positive no one would help a kid who just rang up and asked to speak to John. I shrugged and asked, “What do I tell them?”

  John looked at me in surprise and said simply, “The truth. You tell them you’re my friend.”

  That was the greatest gift of all. I tucked the card into my handbag. To me, it instantly became a magic number and I swore I would always keep it safe.

  John added, “If you ever need anything, I’ll always take care of you.”

  My address book, in which I recorded John and Yoko’s contact details.

  I decided to go before I broke down and embarrassed us both. Worse, John might take his card back. As I said goodbye, John put his arms around me and gave me a big hug and a kiss. I can still remember his embrace. He was incredibly slim; I was surprised at how bony he felt. He’d obviously not been getting enough to eat at the Bed-In. Also his beard felt tickly – but a great sort of tickly.

  We smiled as I left and headed for the lift, happy. This was certainly easier than scampering up the fire escape and climbing in through a window, as I’d done on my way in. Eight days is a very long time.

  Thank you, John and Yoko. You gave peace and me a chance.

  John and Yoko’s Christmas message from 1969. It’s still apt.

  AFTERWORD

  STRAWBERRY FIELDS FOREVER

  There was life after the Bed-In, but it wasn’t always as exciting. To everyone’s heartache, the Beatles broke up in 1970, although they continued to be superstars individually. John and Yoko moved to New York City, which isn’t far away from Montreal. But as it happened, after university I moved to London, where I became a writer.

  John had achieved his ambition to write a peace anthem that would stand the test of time. “Give Peace a Chance” was sung by half a million demonstrators in Washington, DC, during a peace rally later in 1969, and it’s still sung today.

  And yes, I did see John again.

  As he’d promised, his magic number worked. I didn’t ring it every day, of course, but I used it a few times and John always seemed happy to hear from me. I also kept up with him through mutual friends and, even easier, of course, the newspapers.

  I took it for granted that there would always be time for us to see each other again. But on 8 December 1980, as the Lennons entered the Dakota apartment building where they lived, John was shot by Mark David Chapman. John died almost instantly.

  “My biggest fear is that, one day, a nutter with a gun is going to get me.” His words came back to me. His greatest nightmare
had come true. The shock waves ricocheted around the world. Like so many others, I mourned him and miss him to this day.

  The cue card with his handwritten lyrics to “Give Peace a Chance” had moved with me to London. It hung on the wall of my study, a souvenir of happy times. Over the years, I’d often wondered why I’d been given those lyrics. Perhaps now I knew: to get John and Yoko’s peace message out to the world once again. I hope I’ve used them to honour John’s memory.

  Thanks again, John and Yoko. May your words continue to be heard for ever. Love and peace.

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  Many thanks to Gill Evans, who thought there might be a book in my story – and, thank goodness, was right. I also want to thank my friend and agent Mike Sharland, for his help and encouragement and for keeping me sane throughout. A special wave to George Urquhart, the former Director of Security at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel, and John and Yoko’s bodyguard at the Bed-In; invaluable both then and now.

  And a big scream-out to John, Paul, George and Ringo, because it all started with them. I’m still a Beatlemaniac forty years on … even though my parents said I’d grow out of it!

  INTERNET LINKS

  Here are John’s original lyrics to “Give Peace a Chance”. My mother thought they were cluttering up my bedroom and wanted to throw them out. Luckily I didn’t let her!

  http://blog.nj.com/ledgerupdates_impact/2008/05/large_lyrics.jpg

  The best thing about auctioning the “Give Peace a Chance” lyrics was hearing the song played all around the world again, along with the Lennons’ peace message. I like to think that may have been why John gave me the lyrics. CBS filmed this short piece about it:

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_p-jp45W4A

  You can see me briefly in this clip, standing behind Al Capp with the photographers, and you can also hear me laugh out loud a lot!

  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYxFO8o-t2E

  Alder Hey Children’s

  Hospital IMAGINE Appeal

  This famous children’s hospital is based in John’s home town of Liverpool and cares for around 250,000 sick children each year. Donations to IMAGINE go towards medical research, buying vital equipment and improving sick children’s lives worldwide.

  IMAGINE has the support of Yoko Ono, who has allowed one of John’s sketches to be used as its logo so, once again, his drawings are helping people.

  http://www.imagineappeal.com/

  WHY

  WhyHunger is a not-for-profit registered organization which fights hunger and poverty in the United States and around the world, by supporting communities and building self-reliance. It teaches people how to empower themselves and is also supported by Yoko Ono.

  http://www.whyhunger.org/

  GAIL RENARD

  Gail is an award-winning screenwriter and performer. After the Bed-In and graduating from university, she arrived in London, where she started writing television scripts. Gail won a prestigious British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) award for the BBC TV teenage comedy/drama series she created, Custer’s Last Stand-Up. Her many series include the C4 comedy Get Up, Stand Up, the Famous Five film series and BBC TV’s Chucklevision. Gail writes books for both children and adults, and is currently co-writing a film and stage comedy.

  As a performer Gail has appeared in many TV and radio shows, and she has featured for many years as both presenter and judge of one of ITV’s major shows, The British Comedy Awards.

  Gail is a former Chair of the Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, and its current TV Chair. She has never stopped fighting for people’s rights – a lesson she learned from John and Yoko.

  Here’s me with the original SGT. PEPPER drum-skin, designed by artist Peter Blake. And the beat goes on!

  A dress I wore at the Bed-In (but don’t any more!) and the “Give Peace A Chance” lyrics in John’s own handwriting.

  Dedicated to John and

  Yoko, with thanks.

  And also to my

  parents, who made

  it all possible.

  All quotes are taken from Gail Renard’s journal, as written at the

  time of events, or from the public domain/film clips. Events and

  conversations are described as recollected by the author.

  First published 2010 by Walker Books Ltd

  87 Vauxhall Walk, London SE11 5HJ

  Text, photographs and illustrations © 2010 Gail Renard

  The right of Gail Renard to be identified as author of this work has

  been asserted by her in accordance with the Copyright, Designs

  and Patents Act 1988

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced,

  transmitted or stored in an information retrieval system in any

  form or by any means, graphic, electronic or mechanical, including

  photocopying, taping and recording, without prior written

  permission from the publisher.

  British Library Cataloguing in Publication Data:

  a catalogue record for this book is available from the British Library

  ISBN 978-1-4063-3258-2 (ePub)

  ISBN 978-1-4063-3259-9 (e-PDF)

  www.walker.co.uk