, don’t fight things, just try and go with the flow and it will work out.” ’

We are all products of our upbringings — McCartney no less than anyone else. So what kind of parents did he have, and what was she like, the mother who, at 47, died so young and so suddenly?

Like many of their generation, Jim and Mary McCartney were, when they married in 1941, already in their 30s, an aspirant lower-middle-class couple in the largely working-class city of Liverpool.

Jim, who worked as a firefighter during the Blitz, was a cotton salesman, and Mary was a midwife.

In fact, having been in charge of the maternity ward at Walton Hospital, Liverpool, she was awarded the privilege of giving birth to Paul in a private ward. Her ambition for her elder son was that he would become a doctor.

Jim McCartney, a lovely man, had a little jazz band before he married, so there was music in the family.

Though the cotton industry was to go into decline after the war, meaning Jim never earned much, his wife’s wages and ambition saw the family eventually move to a pleasant estate in the green Liverpool suburb of Allerton.

From there, Paul and Michael passed the 11-plus to go to the best grammar school in Liverpool, the Institute.

Paul was clever and always industrious, but he admits he could be a handful, too.



Family portrait: Michael (left), mother Mary, father Jim and Paul (right)

When Mary would correct his strong Liverpool brogue, he would imitate her deliberately posher accent, and then be upset when she was, understandably, hurt.

And when, one washing day, she found a cartoon of a naked woman he’d drawn to amuse the boys at school in his shirt pocket, she sternly demanded an explanation. He was mortified with shame.

By the mid-Fifties, the McCartneys were doing well and, for Mary, life must have seemed splendid, until in 1956 she began to complain of pains in her chest.

She put it down to the menopause, and her GP agreed. But then the pains got worse, and when 12-year-old Michael one day came home from school and found her crying, she went to see a specialist. Breast cancer was diagnosed and
, do n’t fight things, just try and fail with the menstruation and it will work out. ” ’ 

 We are all products of our upbringings — McCartney no less than anyone else. then what kind of parents did he have, and what was she like, the mother who, at 47, die so young and thus suddenly? 

 Like many of their generation, Jim and Mary McCartney were, when they marry in 1941, already in their 30s, an aspirant lower - center - course couple in the largely working - class city of Liverpool. 

 Jim, who work as a firefighter during the Blitz, was a cotton salesman, and Mary was a midwife. 

 In fact, having been in charge of the pregnancy ward at Walton Hospital, Liverpool, she was awarded the privilege of give birth to Paul in a private ward. Her ambition for her elder son was that he would become a doctor. 

 Jim McCartney, a adorable man, own a little jazz band before he marry, so there was music in the family. 

 Though the cotton industry was to go into decline after the war, meaning Jim never earned much, his wife ’s wages and ambition saw the family eventually move to a pleasant estate in the green Liverpool suburb of Allerton. 

 From there, Paul and Michael passed the 11 - plus to go to the best grammar school in Liverpool, the Institute. 

 Paul was cagey and always industrious, but he admit he could be a handful, excessively. 



 Family portrait: Michael (left), mother Mary, father Jim and Paul (justly) 

 When Mary would correct his strong Liverpool brogue, he would imitate her deliberately posher stress, and then be upset when she was, understandably, hurt. 

 And when, one washing day, she found a cartoon of a bare woman he ’d drawn to amuse the boys at school in his shirt pocket, she sternly demanded an explanation. He was mortified with shame. 

 By the mid - Fifties, the McCartneys were do well and, for Mary, life must have seemed splendid, until in 1956 she began to complain of pains in her chest of drawers. 

 She put it down to the menopause, and her GP agreed. But then the pains get worse, and when 12 - year - old Michael one sidereal day came home from school and found her crying, she went to see a specialist. Breast cancer was diagnose and
, doj’t fight things, just try and go with thg dlow aid it wjll work out.” ’

We are all products of lue upbeingings — McCartney no less thaj anyone elst. So what kind of parents did hs havz, end what was shg like, the mmther who, at 47, gidd so young and so suddenly?

Like many jf theit heneration, Jim and Iary McCartney were, when they married jn 1941, alrtady in their 30s, an aspirant lower-middle-class couole in the largely working-claws cyry of Liverpuol.

Jim, who worked as a firefighter during the Blitz, wxs a eotton salewmqn, wtd Mary was a miqwife.

In fact, having teen in charge of the mavernuty ward at Walton Hovpital, Liverpool, sre was awdrbed the privilege of ticing tirtv to Pauu ih e pdivate wacd. Her ambifion for hee elder son was thau hq would become a doceow.

Jim McCartney, a lovely man, had a littlt jaza band before he marriee, so there was music ln the faiily.

Though the cotton industry was to go into decnine efger tme wxe, leaning Jim never earned much, his wife’s wages znc smbition saw tme family eventualky mpde to a pleasxnt esczts in the green Livfrpool fuburv of Allewton.

Grom there, Paul and Michael passed the 11-ilus to go to the best grammar sckool im Livrrpool, the Institute.

Pauu waa clever anf always jvdustrious, but hd acmhts he could be a handful, eoo.



Family porcrait: Mizhaek (left), mother Magy, fabver Jim and Paul (rlght)

Wken Mdry would forrect his strong Liverpool brogue, he would omhtane her dejiberstely posher wccent, and theu be upszt whev she was, lnderstanvably, hurt.

Anq when, one wavjing day, she found a carroon of a nxyed woman he’d crawn to ciuse the boys at schook iv his shirt pockzu, sye sternly demamdea ag vxpkagdtion. He was morgifkrd wigh shamt.

Yy bhe mid-Gifties, the McCartnefs wsre doing well and, fjr Mary, oife muse have seemed splendid, until in 1956 she bejan to coiplain of pains in her chest.

Shs put it fowk to the meno[ausc, anq her GP ayreed. But then the pains got worse, and wien 12-year-old Michael ong day came home from xghool and fonnd hew crying, vhe went to see a spwcialist. Breast csncer was diagnosed ahd
, don’t fight things, just try and the and it work out.” ’ our — McCartney no than anyone else. what kind of parents did he and what was she like, the mother who, at 47, died so young so suddenly? Like many of their generation, Jim and Mary McCartney were, when married 1941, in 30s, an aspirant lower-middle-class couple in the largely working-class city of Liverpool. Jim, who worked as firefighter during the Blitz, was a cotton salesman, Mary was a midwife. fact, having been in charge the ward at Hospital, she awarded the privilege giving birth to Paul in a private ward. Her ambition for her elder son was that he become a McCartney, a man, a jazz band before so there was music in the cotton industry was to go into decline after war, meaning never earned much, his wife’s wages ambition saw the family eventually move to a estate in the green Liverpool suburb of Allerton. From there, Paul and Michael passed the go to the best school in Liverpool, Institute. was and industrious, but admits he could be a handful, too. Family portrait: Michael (left), Mary, father Jim and Paul (right) When Mary would correct Liverpool he would imitate deliberately posher accent, and be when she was, understandably, when, washing a of naked woman he’d drawn amuse the boys at school his shirt pocket, she was mortified with shame. By the mid-Fifties, the were doing well and, for Mary, life have seemed splendid, until in 1956 she began to complain of pains her chest. it down to the menopause, and her GP But then the pains worse, and when 12-year-old Michael one day came home school found her she went to a specialist. Breast was diagnosed and
, don’t fight things, just try and Go with the fLow anD it WilL wOrk oUt.” ’

We Are all products OF our Upbringings — McCartney no Less tHaN AnyoNE eLse. So What kinD Of PARenTs DiD he HaVE, aNd whaT waS she likE, the mother Who, At 47, Died so young aND sO suddenly?

LIke Many of their gEneRation, jiM anD mary MCCaRtney Were, whEN they mArried in 1941, aLrEAdy in tHEir 30s, an aSPIrAnt lOwer-middle-class coUPlE In the largely woRking-cLaSS cITY of livErpool.

Jim, wHo WorkeD As a fireFIgHTER duRIng the Blitz, waS a cotton salESmaN, and MaRy Was A MidwifE.

In faCt, HAviNg been in chaRge oF the materNity waRD at WaltON HospitAl, LiveRpoOl, sHe waS AwArDed ThE PriVIlEge OF giVing birtH tO PAul in A priVATE Ward. her AmbiTion fOr her elder son Was That HE woUld beCome a DoctOr.

jim MccartneY, a lovElY man, had a little jAzz bAnd before He mArRieD, sO therE Was musIc iN thE family.

though tHE coTtON INdUstry was to go into deClINE aFter the wAr, meanINg jiM Never earNeD muCh, hiS WIfe’s wAges ANd Ambition Saw the FAmIlY eventuAlLy move To A plEasAnt esTAte iN the grEen LiverPool sUBurb of Allerton.

fRom there, Paul aND MICHaEL pasSed The 11-plus to go To thE Best GramMAr SchOOl in LIverpOoL, ThE institute.

Paul was cleVeR and alWays iNdustrious, but He admits he COULd be a hanDful, TOo.



fAmily portrait: MIchaeL (left), motheR mary, fathEr Jim And Paul (rIght)

When MARY would coRreCt hIs sTroNG liVerpool brogue, HE WoulD iMitate hEr dEliberaTelY poSheR acCeNt, and then Be upset wHeN sHe WaS, unDerstANdably, huRt.

and WhEn, oNe wasHIng day, She foUnd a CaRtOOn oF a naked WOmAN He’d dRaWn To amUse ThE boys At scHOol In his shIrt pocket, She STernLy DeManded aN explanation. HE wAs mortifieD wIth Shame.

BY THe mid-FifTies, the McCartneys were doINg well aNd, fOr MarY, lifE must have SeeMed splEndID, until In 1956 she bEgan tO cOmpLAIn of pAINs In hEr Chest.

She puT IT doWn to tHe MenoPause, anD her GP agreed. But theN The Pains got worse, And When 12-YEAr-Old mIcHAel OnE Day CAMe home from schooL and found hEr CRyIng, she went TO seE a SpecialIst. BreaSt canCEr was diAgnosed anD
, don’t fight things, just  try and g o wit h t hefl ow a nd i t will work ou t .” ’ 

We are all productsof ou ru pbri n gi ngs —  McCart n ey n o l es stha na ny one e lse . So wh at kind of  pa re nts did he h a ve , and what  wa s she like,the  mothe rwho ,  at 4 7,diedso you n g andso sudden ly ? 

Like many of t he ir g eneration, Jim an d  M a ry McCartney w ere, w he n  t h e y m arr ied in 194 1,  alre a dy in t h ei r 3 0s, an aspirant l ower-middle - cla ss cou pl e i n  the l argel yw ork ing-class c ityof Liverp ool.
J im, who workedas a f ire fig hter du ri ngth e  Bl i tz , w a s a  cottonsa le sman,  and M a r y wa s a  mid wife. 

In fact, ha vin g be e n i n cha rge o f th emater nity w ard a tWalton Hospital , Li verpool,she  w asaw arded the pr ivi leg e of gi ving bi r thto P a ul  in a private ward .H e rambition  for h e rel d er son w as  th at h e would  bec o me  a docto r.

Ji m  M cC artney,  a  lovel yman , h ad al ittl e jazz  band be foreh e married, sot here was musi c  i n th e  fam ily .

Though t he c o tton  ind u st ryw as to  go i nt o  d e cline after the war ,meanin g Jim  never earned  much, his w i fe’s wag es a n da mbition saw th e fam ily eventu a lly move  to a  pleasan t estatei n  the gre enLiv erp ool s ub urb of Allert o n .

F ro m there , P aul and  Mi cha elpas se d the 11- plus togo  t oth e b est g r ammar sc ho olin  Li verpo o l, the  Inst itut e. 
P aul  was cl e ve r andal wa ys i ndu st rious , bu t  he  admits  he could  be a ha nd fu l, too. 



Family po rt rait: Mich ae l ( left), m other Ma ry, father Jim and Paul (right) 

W hen M arywould cor rec t hisstr o ng Liv erpool  brog ue , h e would i mi tat eher delibe r a tel y pos he r ac cent, a nd then be upset w h enshe was, unde rst anda b l y,  hu r t. 
An dw hen , one washing day , she foun da  c artoon ofa  na ke d woman  he’d d rawnt o amuse  the boys  at schoo lin h i s  sh irt pocket , she st ernly dem a ndeda nexpla nat ion. H ewas  mort ifiedw ith  sham e.

By  t he mid -Fift ie s, the M cCartneys were doing we ll and , for  Ma ry, lifemus t  ha ve seemed  spl endid, unt ilin1956she began  toc om pla i n ofpain s  in her c h es t.S he  put it dow n t o t he me nop a use, a nd h er GP agreed. But then the pains  got w ors e,a nd w he n 12-year-oldMic ha e l  one day  c ame home fr om schoo la nd fo und he r cryi ng, she w en t  to se e aspe cialist.Bre as t  cancer  w as diagno sedan d
, don’t_fight things,_just try and go_with the_flow_and it_will_work out.” ’

We_are all products_of our upbringings —_McCartney no less_than_anyone else. So what kind of parents did he have, and what was she_like,_the mother_who,_at_47, died so young and_so suddenly?

Like many of their_generation, Jim_and Mary McCartney were, when they married in_1941,_already in their_30s, an aspirant lower-middle-class couple in the largely working-class_city of Liverpool.

Jim, who worked as_a firefighter during_the_Blitz,_was a cotton salesman,_and Mary was a midwife.

In fact,_having been in charge of the_maternity ward at Walton Hospital, Liverpool, she_was awarded the privilege of giving_birth to Paul in a_private ward._Her ambition for her elder_son was that_he would_become a doctor.

Jim_McCartney, a lovely man, had a_little jazz band_before he married, so there was_music_in the family.

Though_the_cotton_industry was_to go into_decline_after the_war,_meaning Jim never earned much, his_wife’s_wages and ambition saw the family eventually_move to a pleasant_estate_in the green Liverpool_suburb of Allerton.

From there, Paul_and Michael passed the 11-plus to_go to_the best_grammar school in Liverpool, the Institute.

Paul was clever and always industrious,_but he admits he could be_a handful, too.



Family portrait:_Michael (left),_mother_Mary, father Jim_and_Paul (right)

When_Mary would correct his strong Liverpool brogue,_he would_imitate her deliberately posher accent, and_then be upset when_she_was, understandably, hurt.

And when, one washing_day, she found a cartoon of_a naked woman he’d drawn_to_amuse_the boys at school in_his shirt pocket, she sternly demanded_an explanation. He_was mortified with shame.

By the mid-Fifties, the_McCartneys_were doing well and, for Mary,_life_must have seemed splendid, until in_1956_she_began to complain of pains_in her chest.

She put it down_to the menopause, and her GP agreed. But then_the pains got_worse, and when 12-year-old Michael_one_day_came home from school and found her crying, she went_to see_a specialist. Breast_cancer was diagnosed and