Beryl Adams, witness to the Beatles revolution, dies aged 66.
Byline: Lew BaxterA WOMAN who helped lead the Beatles on their first steps to international stardom has died of suspected CJD.
Beryl Adams, the first secretary of Beatles manager Brian Epstein, died early Saturday afternoon after a short savage illness.
Doctors think her condition may have incorporated the symptoms of sporadic Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease, the rare condition that kills about 120 people a year in Britain.
Last night, her younger sister, Dot Ash, said it was impossible to confirm the diagnosis but that the family has agreed to allow medical analysis on Ms Adam's body which will be taken to a special Edinburgh research unit later this week.
Ms Adams had been confined to the palliative care unit in the Royal Liverpool Hospital for several weeks after being transferred only a few weeks ago from an observation ward in Broadgreen Hospital, Liverpool.
Her friends and family had maintained a day-long vigil at her bedside as her condition deteriorated rapidly over the weeks.
She began to develop the symptoms - confusion, memory loss and speaking impairments - only in late January but, according to medical experts, the gestation period for the disease is considerable and it strikes without warning. It acts quickly and there is no known cure at present.
Yesterday tributes were flowing to mark the unusual, if tragic, life of 66-year-old Ms Adams who had worked for Brian Epstein in the early 60s when he was forging the fledgling Beatles.
She also later worked for Cavern Club owner Ray McFall and had even briefly managed her own band, The Kirkbys, who have recently reformed.
Her sister, Mrs Ash, and son Simon Mullins said they were grateful for the wonderful care Beryl had received at the hands of the medical teams both at the Royal and Broadgreen hospitals.
Mrs Ash added: ``They have displayed patience and con-sideration, especially as no one really knows even yet what was wrong with Beryl.
``At present it is just theory.'' Ms Adams's partner for the last 12 years was Allan Williams, ironically the man who managed the Beatles before Brian Epstein.
Yesterday Mr Williams told of his devastation at Beryl's unexpected passing. ``The years with her have been the best of my life.
``I have lost a rock and a dear friend and companion.''
Peter Grant, who set up the Liverpool Daily Post & Echo website dedicated to the Beatles and Mersey Beat music, said: ``Beryl's story as part of that fantastic musical revolution is one that has never been properly told. ``She was loyal to the band and Brian Epstein for years and yet was there right at the beginning.
``She was a terrific lady.''
Ms Adams was once also married for three years to Cavern disc jockey Bob Wooler who died a little over a year ago.
Theirs was a special if turbulent relationship, which continued even after divorce and Beryl was a leading mourner at Mr Wooler's funeral.
She married her second husband, Peter Mullins, in the 1970s after abandoning the wild life she had led as part of the Mersey Beat boom. They had a son Simon, now in his 30s, to whom she was devoted.
For years, Ms Adams worked as a doctor's receptionist in West Derby unwilling to talk about her helterskelter life in the wake of the Beatles and Epstein.
She was a long-time neighbour and friend of Pete Best who had been sacked from the Beatles early on.
Ms Adams had been living alone for several years in a flat in the Alfred Stocks Housing complex in Dingle, Liverpool, just a few doors down the corridor from Mr Williams who was her constant companion.
Earlier this year, she was excited to learn that a book tracing her fascinating life - called presciently The Tragical History Tour - was to be launched at this summer's Estrel Beatles Festival in Berlin and later at the Liverpool Beatles Convention.
According to Mr Williams, she was looking forward to talking to the expected thousands of Beatles fans about her involvement.
``Now she won't be able to enjoy these latter day moments of reflected glory. It is just so sad,'' added Mr Williams.
But her sister and son last night revealed that they want the book to ahead as a tribute to her life.
``It is what she would have wanted,'' said Mrs Ash.
CAPTION(S):
DEVASTATED: Her partner Allan Williams; SPECIAL MEMORIES: Beryl Adams in front of a picture of the Beatles, whose early careers she helped to shape; Photo: Daily Post archive.
 Printer friendly
 Cite/link
 Email
 Feedback
| |
| Publication: | Daily Post (Liverpool, England) |
|---|---|
| Date: | Mar 3, 2003 |
| Words: | 748 |
| Previous Article: | Letter: Hats off. |
| Next Article: | All about ... MUSSELS. |