Paul McCartney is revealed to have repaid ‘debt’ over a blanket after Beatles success in letter

Paul McCartney repaid a long-standing ‘debt’ once he was famous with the Beatles, a letter penned by the musician and now up for auction has revealed. 

In 1958, the singer, 78, and his late bandmate George Harrison went on a hitchhiking holiday and visited Harlech, in Gwynedd, North Wales.

The duo, then just teenagers, became friendly with the Brierley family and returned the following year – making off with one of their blankets. 

Sweet: Paul McCartney repaid a long-standing ‘debt’ over a blanket once he was famous with the Beatles, a letter penned by the musician has revealed 

Irene Brierley never forgot her missing blanket and long after Beatlemania swept the globe and during the 1980s she wrote to McCartney to jokingly remind him she was still a blanket short.

McCartney responded graciously as he wrote back: ‘Dear Mrs Brierley (Irene), Your letter reached me eventually and I was sorry to hear about my ‘debt’.

‘I remember well the fun we had in Harlech and hope the enclosed cheque will settle our money differences! 

‘Excuse the scrawl as I’m trying to write this on a bouncing express train!! 

Good memories: In 1958, the singer, 78, (middle) and his late bandmate George Harrison went on a hitchhiking holiday and visited Harlech, in Gwynedd, North Wales, where they met the Brierley family (left, John Brierley)

Good memories: In 1958, the singer, 78, (middle) and his late bandmate George Harrison went on a hitchhiking holiday and visited Harlech, in Gwynedd, North Wales, where they met the Brierley family (left, John Brierley)

‘I was very sorry to hear about your hubby – he was a very nice man. Please give my best to your boys. Kindest regards, Paul (McCartney).’

Mrs Brierley went on to cash the £30 cheque sent by the musician.      

The Beatles stars first visited the seaside resort of Harlech, known for its castle and the song Men Of Harlech, in 1958 and knocked on the door of the Brierley family farmhouse.

They were allowed to pitch their tent in the field at the rear of their bungalow and after a downpour on their first night, the pair sought refuge in the farmhouse and ended up staying the week.

Paying up: The letter written by McCartney to send the cheque settling the 'debt' is now up for auction, with a starting price of £3000

Paying up: The letter written by McCartney to send the cheque settling the ‘debt’ is now up for auction, with a starting price of £3000

Simpler times: Mr Brierley also recalled watching McCartney banging away on the family piano trying to work out the solo in the middle of the Buddy Holly song Think It Over (The Beatles are pictured in 1967)

Simpler times: Mr Brierley also recalled watching McCartney banging away on the family piano trying to work out the solo in the middle of the Buddy Holly song Think It Over (The Beatles are pictured in 1967)

McCartney and Harrison became friendly with the young John Brierley, a musician himself, and later  sat in with his local skiffle group The Vikings during a performance at the Queen’s Hotel pub in the village.

Mr Brierley also recalled several days of playing snooker and playing Elvis Presley’s first LP, Rock ‘N’ Roll, as well as McCartney banging away on the family piano trying to work out the solo in the middle of the Buddy Holly song Think It Over.

The pair enjoyed themselves so much they returned to the Brierleys’ home the following year and later made off with one of the family’s blankets.

It was this event that stayed in Mrs Brierley’s memory for decades and which she received the letter from McCartney about. 

The letter has a starting price of £3,000 and is being auctioned online at Tracks, which offers free valuations of all types of Beatles and music memorabilia.

Fame: The Beatles are pictured in Milan, Italy, in 1965. Left To Right is George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney And John Lennon

Fame: The Beatles are pictured in Milan, Italy, in 1965. Left To Right is George Harrison, Ringo Starr, Paul McCartney And John Lennon

It comes after McCartney announced a new picture book sequel inspired by The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine.

The book is set to be released globally on September 2nd and follows on from the rockstar’s 2019 offering Hey Grandude! and introduces new character Nandude. 

Yellow Submarine was first released by The Beatles on their 1966 album Revolver, and as a double a-side with Eleanor Rigby. 

Grandude’s Green Submarine ‘continues the adventures of Grandude and his grandchildren as they set off on a quest to find their music-loving grandmother, Nandude!’.

Sir Paul said: ‘I’m really happy with how Hey Grandude! was received as this was a very personal story for me, celebrating Grandudes everywhere and their relationships and adventures with their grandchildren. 

‘I love that it has become a book read to grandkids at bedtime all around the world. 

Second in the series: It comes after McCartney announced a new picture book sequel inspired by The Beatles' Yellow Submarine (Pictured in 2019)

Second in the series: It comes after McCartney announced a new picture book sequel inspired by The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine (Pictured in 2019)