i came over and went on the beatle walk,with richard its first class,especially the atmosphere and abbey rd its a one off experience will gladly go again ist class guide really knows his stuff

I thought I would share my experience we had on the Beatles tour on Thursday 7th June.

Richard Porter (London Walks Guide)

People that came on my London Beatles tour on Thursday 7th June were in for a surpirse - they got to see Paul McCartney play live - for nothing!!

Paul's 'secret gig' at the Electric Ballroom, Camden Town, was only announced at about 3pm the previous day. When I read the report on the official Paul McCartney website my reaction turned from excitement to despair in a few seconds. They were giving out armbands for the concert at 12.30pm - when I would be in the middle of my Beatles tour!!! I wouldn't be able to get to Camden until about 2pm. Would I miss out on seeing Paul McCartney because I was doing a Beatles tour! How ironic.

Due to the short notice there was no way I could get another guide to do the tour - and I thought that 'taking a sickie' to get tickets for Paul McCartney would have been a bit too obvious. I spent a sleepless night wondering how on earth I could be in two places at the same time.

I decided to go down to the Electric Ballroom early the next morning to see what the situation was. I arrived at about 8am and was amazed there were only 14 people in the queue! I was fully expecting there to be several hundred by then. When Paul did the signing for Ecce Cor Meum in December scores of people slept outside Virgin for the night. It seemed the late announcement of the concert has prevented many people from coming.

I asked the security guys when the bands were to be given out and he said between 12 and 12.30. I still had a problem. However, I stayed in the queue for a couple of hours and by 10am only another 6 people arrived. Then I had a brainwave. I was sure that everyone who arrived for the tour that day would like to see Paul live. Tottenham Court Road is only about 10 minutes on the underground from Camden. I could go down to the start point of the tour, bring them to Camden in good time for the handing out of bands at 12.30 and do the tour in the afternoon. Luckily London Walks agreed with my plan. My spirits were improving. Then just as I was about to leave Camden I got a call from Paulmcartney.com to say I had won tickets to the concert in their draw. Things were certainly looking up!!

About 25 people turned up for the tour and I told them the plans. Most were really excited but one or two had theatre tickets and couldn't go to see Paul.

We got back to Camden at 11.30am and there were still only about 30 people in the queue. It seemed everyone on the tour would get in.

We did the tour in the afternoon and had some free time before the show. Many people that had come on my tour came to thank me. I guess I made a few new friends :>)