Interview for Bravo

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In September 1969, the German magazine Bravo published an article about sixteen young women employed by Apple Corps, offering a glimpse into office life behind the scenes with The Beatles.

16 girls have the best bosses in the world:
Our bosses are the Beatles!

300,000 people applied for these jobs, but only 16 got them. The reason for this overwhelming demand? These jobs were offered at “Apple,” the poppiest company in the world. The bosses are John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr. BRAVO reporter Wolfgang Frank spoke in London with the 16 lucky girls who landed these coveted jobs.

Janet Lumley
Kitchen maid (16)

“I’ve been cooking for the Beatles for half a year now. It’s fantastic. And I cook just as gladly and carefully as if the four of them were my own family. John is the pickiest, he’s a vegetarian. Paul is the hungriest and even once personally brought back his plate to tell us how much he enjoyed it.”

Betty Rodrigues
Kitchen maid (18)

“I applied to a job ad that only had a reference number. ‘Apple’ always does that when they’re looking for staff. I thought it was fantastic, of course, that I would be cooking for the Beatles. At first, I was very afraid that I wouldn’t meet their expectations. The four aren’t big eaters, but they’re the nicest bosses in the world.”

Sally Burgess
Press secretary (21)

“John, Paul, George, and Ringo only have young, funny, and talented people around them. And I’m flattered to be one of them. Although we work hard, the atmosphere is more relaxed and fun than in any other company in the world. And something new happens every day. You have to learn to adapt instantly to any situation. Once, though, even I was overwhelmed: I just crawled under my desk.”

Debbie Wellum
Receptionist (20)

“I definitely have the most exciting ‘Apple’ job. I have to intercept all the teenagers who try to sneak through to my bosses. Recently, a group of Italian boy scouts came by, all claiming to be cousins of George Harrison. But I’ve long since stopped falling for such lame tricks. I wouldn’t trade my bosses for anyone else in the world, even if they really did have that many cousins!”

Sally Reed
Secretary (20)

“I was already a Beatles fan before I started here eight months ago. The four of them may no longer be on a pedestal for me, but I’ve come to respect them as businessmen and bosses. I work in the production department, where things are the most intense. But the Beatles always remain kind and easygoing, even when the whole world shakes around them. They simply have a completely different attitude toward these things than the average person. Sometimes I wish I had a bit of that calm too.”

Dee Meehan
Assistant (25)

“I have to listen to all the tapes sent to the Beatles. From people who hope to have such a career themselves one day. It’s a tough job. But once you’ve worked in the pop business, you never get out of it. Especially when the Beatles are your bosses. Paul is the best—he always knows exactly what he wants. George and Ringo are always kind and polite, only John can sometimes get on your nerves. But he’s improved a lot lately.”

Amanda Hull
Tea Cook (39)

“I’m responsible for tea and coffee. We go through a lot of it, because ‘Apple’ is a hospitable house. In a small room, I have a two-burner stove, where there’s always a pot of water and a coffee pot. I always make the tea fresh, otherwise it turns bitter. With Paul, I make sure he doesn’t take too much sugar. That’s not good for his figure.”

Linda Bristow
Publishing Assistant (22)

“I work in the music publishing division at ‘Apple.’ Of course, I’m a Beatles fan, but I don’t faint every time they walk through the door. Just being a fan isn’t enough to get a job at ‘Apple.’ There’s a lot to do here, and you really need to know your stuff. But we’re well paid and have the most wonderful bosses in the world. My favorite boss is George. To me, he’s the most handsome. But I mustn’t idolize him — he’d be furious.”

Jean Griffith
Secretary (24)

“I got my job through an agency. I could never write a cover letter like all those young girls, especially the Americans; something like: Ringo, I’m crazy about you, let me type for you, you don’t even need to pay me. – But I wouldn’t want to trade places with anyone. You don’t give up a job like this so easily. I like working for Ringo the most — he has the best manners.”

Frankie Hart
Press Secretary (19)

“Anyone who thinks we spend all day putting on lipstick and mascara just because our bosses aren’t around is seriously mistaken. After all, there are four of them, and one is always around to keep us on our toes. We really don’t get any slack. But what girl wouldn’t be happy to work overtime if, say, Paul McCartney asked her to? Even the boyfriend has to understand that!”

Carol Paddon
Press Secretary (23)

“Of course I’m a Beatles fan. Who isn’t?! It’s simply much nicer to have young, handsome men as bosses than old, fat, grumpy ones who are always trying to flirt with you. That doesn’t happen with the Beatles. I’ve never heard of a girl complaining—at most, it’s that the Beatles didn’t flirt with her!”

Terrie Clemens
Accountant (28)

“There’s always a lot of hustle and bustle here, but you always know you’re being treated decently. We don’t see the Beatles very often, since they obviously don’t have the faintest idea about accounting. But if any of us misses our bosses, we can just go and talk to them. My funniest experience at ‘Apple’? One time, Mick Jagger walked through some room and I didn’t even recognize him!”

Sally Stewart
Secretary (19)

“My relatives always pitied me when that thing with the Maharishi and the marijuana happened. They probably thought I worked in some den of vice or that the Beatles were trafficking girls. All I can say is: whatever may have happened out there, the Beatles were always first class to us. I wish every girl had such considerate and kind bosses.”

Carol Chapman
Secretary (23)

“It’s a wonderful feeling to know that a hundred thousand girls envy you for your job. That’s why I don’t mind getting up half an hour earlier in the morning, since I live in the opposite direction from ‘Apple.’ And when I hear the Beatles on the radio, my heart beats faster. After all, those are my bosses singing. Who else can say that?!”

Barbara Bennet
Secretary (24)

“My best experience at ‘Apple’ was when Paul gave me a little Yorkshire Terrier. He once overheard me raving about the breed to a colleague, and a few days later he showed up with one. But when I once went to visit my friend Colin Petersen, the terrier got lost in the big city crowd. I never got him back, even though I posted a ton of lost dog ads.”

Laurie McCaffrey
Telephone Operator (25)

“I get an average of 2,000 calls a day. During school holidays, it’s significantly more. Kids call and say: This is Mrs. McCartney, can I please speak to my son? — I’ve been working for the Beatles for six years now and still never know what’s going to happen next. But honestly: I don’t even want to know!”

Going further

• http://www.meetthebeatlesforreal.com/2014/01/the-beatles-are-our-bosses.html