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The Truth About John Lennon's Very First Girlfriend, Thelma Pickles

Thelma Pickles McGough went on to reminisce to The Guardian about accompanying John Lennon to his home, where he lived with his aunt, Mimi Smith, and the two had "a kiss and cuddle" in Lennon's bedroom. At one point "Paul [McCartney] and George [Harrison] came round and we all had beans on toast, then they played their guitars in the kitchen," which means Pickles may have been one of the first people to hear what would become The Beatles playing music together as a group. She noted that she found Lennon's house "posh" after having grown up in a council house, or public housing. According to McGough, Lennon refused to wear the glasses he needed, which meant when they went to see the Elvis Presley movie "Jailhouse Rock," he kept grabbing her hand and asking "What's happening now, Thel?" 

The two continued dating until 1959. In a 2020 article in the Express, Pickles, identified as a television producer as well as an award-winning artist, recalled that it all fell apart at a school dance when "we went upstairs to a darkened room for what he euphemistically called, a 'five-mile-run' — because he'd read having sex expended the equivalent energy." When Pickles realized there were other people in the room, she refused to stay, at which point "John yanked me back by my hair and punched me. That ended it for me." 

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Zora Stowers

Update: 2024-05-22