AMAZON DESCRIPTION:
A Beatles book rarity is always great to see re-published. “The ups and downs of being in and out of the limelight. Showbiz from the wings. Dancing with Sinatra, singing with Robert Mitchum, chatting with the Beatles, dining with Buzz Aldrin, making cake for David Bowie, taking the Duchess of Gloucester shopping, and having strange meetings with Anthony Hopkins have added to a life well-lived, rich with good friends, family, and memories.”
Singer Mary Hopkin of Those Were the Days fame has a sister named Carole who is an artist. Several years ago, she wrote a book that was her memoir of recollections of encounters she had with many fascinating celebrities. The book was independently published and after a very short time it was impossible find a copy as it went out-of-print rather quickly. Good news though, as it has apparently been re-published as new listings for the book have appeared in March of 2026 on Amazon.
When I posted my original find of this book through a friend on Facebook, I remember receiving several requests from people searching for this book and they simply could not locate a copy. It appears that problem has now been solved!
Hear the story of how George’s brother invited Carole to Friar Park to do some sketches for his brother, George! Some of the sketches are included in the book. For more stories, you can find the book at these 2 links:
AMAZON US:
BEATLES BEFORE & BEYOND: Hopkin, Carole M., Hopkin, Carole M.: 9798248377626: Amazon.com: Books
AMAZON UK:
BEATLES BEFORE & BEYOND: Amazon.co.uk: Hopkin, Carole M., Hopkin, Carole M.: 9798248377626: BooksMARY HOPKIN’S SISTER, CAROLE M. HOPKIN-AN ARTIST IN HER OWN WRITE!
Carole M. Hopkin: The back cover of her book!
AMAZON DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOK:
“The ups and downs of being in and out of the limelight. Showbiz from the wings. Dancing with Sinatra, singing with Robert Mitchum, chatting with the Beatles, dining with Buzz Aldrin, making cake for David Bowie, taking the Duchess of Gloucester shopping, and having strange meetings with Anthony Hopkins have added to a life well-lived, rich with good friends, family, and memories.
As the author graduates from Art School her career path is waylaid by her sister’s sudden rise to world fame, and the two girls are whisked from recordings at Apple Records and Abbey Road to first class travel several times around the world. Through this the author manages to sustain her writing and painting, adding singing, dancing and acting to her C.V. along the way. She stars in The Mousetrap, and Dr. Who, chats to Richard Burton in New York, and Maxime de la Falaise as she makes Andy Warhol’s birthday cake. She’s on-board H.M.S. Hermes, entertaining the troops after the Falklands war and gets to paint in George Harrison’s garden when she lives in Henley. In Monte Carlo she meets Anthony Burgess and Rex Harrison and parties away with the best of them.
The book sums up the best and the worst of being in and out of the limelight!”
Glad to see this book rarity reappear for Beatles book collectors. I had searched originally for months in trying to obtain an original copy when it was out-of-print and ultimately found one. Now that problem is solved! Though this is not a Beatles book per-se, you will enjoy many of the stories and illustrations!
Be healthy and be happy!
Buzz
