It was the first week of September of 1968. This was before my Father was Ludlow Porch, he was mild mannered Claims adjuster Bob Hanson the owner of Hanson Claims Service with offices in Atlanta, Macon, and Athens and looking to expand even more. He heard about an adjusters convention that was supposed to be the best of the best for building a franchise and he wanted to go. The desicion was easy, the hard part was it was London but he was going.
He made reservations for him and my Mom. It was a 5 day trip, starting Thursday morning with the last class about noon on Sunday. Everything was all set...Then came the problem. My little Sister came down with the mumps and my Mom said she could not leave a sick baby with a babysitter for five day and go traipsing halfway around the world. The airline tickets were not refundable but they were transferable. My Mom shot down the idea of my Dad taking his secretary. My older Sister Barbara was the next logical choice but she had a date to go to her first Homecoming dance on Saturday. That left me and I was packing before I was told I was going.
We left Wednesday afternoon because stuff started for my Dad Thursday morning. It was dark when we checked in and jet lag was all over me so we went straight to bed. Morning came fast and we went downstairs and had breakfast. Keep in mind I had just turned 10 a few days earlier and I did have a small wild streak and my Dad knew it.
We went back to the room and he sat me down and held my shoulders and looked me straight in the eye and said "Now Phil, I'm gonna be gone about 8 hours and I need you to STAY in the hotel, do you understand that". I assured him that I did and I would, and I meant to.
Thursday I was still tired so I did stay in the hotel building. I don't remember the name but it was one of those big old 100 year+ hotels with a lot of stuff in it so I stayed busy.
Friday was a different story. I did some scouting and I found out our hotel was only 4 blocks from Abbey Road Studios. I had been a HUGE Beatles fan since I saw them in Atlanta 3 years earlier.
My Dad left Friday about 8:00 and I was gone at 8:15 on my adventure. I was rich we had converted dollars into pounds and I must have had 14 or 15 pounds burning a hole in my pocket but shopping could wait I needed to see Abbey Road Studios and maybe even Beatle...A 10 year old mind can wish.
There was a very light mist as there usually is in London and I made my way the 4 blocks to Abbey Road. I made it and it looked like an office building. I was a bit disappointed but I didn't know what to expect.
While standing on the curb looking at the building a car pulled up to the curb and I didn't pay much attention to it and I guess they didn't pay too much attention to me because suddenly the back door swung open hard and hit me in the butt and knocked me down. A very proper English Gentleman and a boy about my age got out. The man was very apologetic and made sure I was okay. I said I was fine but he insisted on talking to my parents to apologize to them but I explained I was alone and just stopped by to try to see a Beatle and he laughed and told me to come with him and his Son and I did.
We walked right up those steps like we owned the building and went right in. There was only one security guard at the door and we walked right past him as he said "Good morning Mr. Martin".
At this point I still didn't understand who Mr. Martin was but I would in a few minutes.
We walked up 2 flights of stairs to a door that said George Martin on it and it was beginning to make sense now. He introduced me to his Son Greg and told him to show me around and to introduce me to "The Boys" when they came in.
Greg ask me how old I was and he made sure I understood he was a year older than me, even though I was about 2 inches taller. He showed me around for about an hour and we went everywhere then he said he thinks the boys are coming in. They were supposed to be there at 9:00 but they were always late. We went to the main studio and the catering company had just put out pastries and coffee and hot water for tea and OJ and milk. Greg said we need to eat before John got there because he was a pig. About 10:30 Ringo shows up and heads straight to the pastries and made some tea. Greg introduced us and we shook hands and made small talk and I was in heaven. About 10 minutes later Paul comes in and it was kinda the same thing and I'm still in heaven. Then George shows up and walked straight over and started hooking up his guitars. Greg introduced me to George and he was very nice. About an hour later the three that were there were making small talk and playing a little bit of this and that. I didn't know at the time but they were working on The White Album. Paul was working on The Birthday Song and I thought that was cool. It was now 11:30 and still no John. George spoke up and said "Hey kid, can play the guitar and sing, you can fill in for John".
About that time John and Yoko show up and he yells sorry I'm late...Paul says he's always late. John headed straight for the pastries and loaded up a plate and made 2 cups of coffee, Yoko was on her own. Greg was right he was a pig.
Greg took me over to meet John and Yoko and John ask Greg if I was a friend of his and as John was taking a sip of coffee Greg said "No my Dad hit him with the car this morning and he felt sorry for him and brought him in". That was the point that John blew coffee out of his nose. Greg explained what happened and it was all good.
They all sat there feeding off each other and playing this and that and it was all new to me because the White Album had not come out yet but I was looking forward to it.
Well if you have gotten this far I guess I can tell you this only happened in my mind...I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it.
