Tom Murray's Mad Day Out

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Eventually the paper got bought out by our biggest rival, mainly because we were doing so well. So, undeterred, I got in my car and drove down to what is now Zimbabwe. From there I went to Pretoria where I found lodgings. The lady who ran the house had a sister who worked for the South African government and information department.

There was a vacancy on the magazine there, called ‘Panorama’ and I got the job.

So, there I was, barely twenty one years old, working on a government backed magazine, armed with a massive American car that they gave me to get around. For quite some time I went everywhere covering amazing stories and meeting some remarkable people.

Incidentally, at the time my government pass number was 002. I asked if I could change it for 007, but alas they told me that no one could have that number. I wonder why?

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The only reason I left the magazine was that I was on civil service wages.

That and the fact that I got headhunted by The Pretoria News.

To be honest it wasn’t great fun because it was an afternoon paper, so anything you shot after 2pm or before 8 or 9 in the morning ended up in the dustbin.

The worst thing was that the guy I worked with had equipment that was forever breaking down, which meant we lost so many good shots along the way. I couldn’t abide that kind of nonsense, so I started the first studio for the Performing Arts of the Transvaal, and won three international awards for my theatre photography. Eventually, I made my way back to home shores after what turned out to be four and a half years in Africa.

Radio, of course, went around the world and although it was 1964, in terms of global technology The Beatles sound still made it across the airwaves of Africa.

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George Harrison and Paul McCartney at the BBC 1964

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The Stones and The Beatles got kids thinking, and also inspired them to also take up the guitar, and write songs.

I liked all the music of the time, Gerry And The Pacemakers, Cilla Black etc, they were all brilliant.

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My mum always said to me,

‘don’t be surprised who you meet in life, they’re only people.’

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Working with the great, the good and THE ROYALS I first met Princess Margaret in May of 1968 and it all happened quite by accident. I was in Lord Snowdon’s studio at Kensington Palace and I could hear a clip clop upstairs. I knew who it was before I even got to see her. There she was, right in front of me; Princess Margaret. She simply said, ‘hello, you must be Tommy?

I’m Tony’s wife, Margaret.’ So I bowed and shook her hand. She was a lovely lady and we had a real ball.

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‘Flower Power 2’ by Tom Murray 1968

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When we went to St Katharine Docks area we managed to stay for quite a while, because there were no mobile phones or stuff like that to notify people. For some reason Paul decided to take his shirt off and stand by the side of The River Thames. He draped a set of chains around himself and we took the shots.

Many years later he asked me for a copy of that for Heather.

I wonder what state that picture is in now? George and Ringo both had copies from the day, but John and Yoko didn’t have any of the images, as far as I know. I would be delighted to give some to Yoko and the kids if they ever wanted some.

Wapping Pier Head. Shoot site of ‘Chains’ and ‘Untitled’

Wapping High Street 1964

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‘Chains’ by Tom Murray 1968 FINAL PRINT MURRAY BOOK DOCUMENT_The Beatles_Tom Murrays Mad Day Out_Book.indd 93

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Y E STE RDAY A ND TODAY

WAPPING PIER HEAD

shoot locations

down there beyond the wall.

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