{Text based upon that found in The Beatles London (St. Martin's Press, New York NY 1994) by Piet Schreuders, Mark Lewisohn & Adam Smith.}
John and Yoko's home in Tittenhurst Park was the location for the final photo session showing the four Beatles together, an historic event which took place on Friday, August 22, 1969, two days after their last recording session together. It was caught by the cameras of American photographer Ethan Russell, veteran Daily Mail man Monte Fresco, and the Beatles' assistant Mal Evans. Some amateurish film footage was also shot on this day.
For the occasion, John and George donned wide-brimmed cowboy hats. Yoko Ono Lennon and a pregnant Linda McCartney (she was to give birth to daughter Mary six days later) appeared in some photographs too. Also present was the Apple press officer, Derek Taylor; and Paul's sheepdog Martha.
The group photo session began in front of the main house, the Beatles standing among the pillars supporting the terrace canopy. They then walked down the main garden path, past the Diana statue, to a paddock of high grass (an old cricket pitch), where George, Paul, John, and Ringo stood in a row, being photographed and filmed from all sides.
John and Yoko then lead a pair of donkeys from the nearby stables, and the Beatles posed with them.
The Beatles were then photographed
at the following locations -
Underneath the Cypress tree near the Diana statue:
Underneath a pair of Weeping Blue Atlas cedar trees:
In front of the Atlas trees:
On the lawn near the main house, in front of a retaining wall:
On the balcony, leaning against the front door of the Victorian assembly hall, surrounded by stone busts:
Looking over the balcony (joined by Linda and Yoko):
Standing in a side doorway of the assembly hall:
Sitting, and then standing, in front of two arched porches in the southern wall of four terraced cottages:
John and Ringo then going upstairs and looking out of the first floor windows:
On the walled path between the cottages and the main house:
Indoors, sitting at a large wooden table:
Outside, grouped in a corner of the Southern balcony of the main house:
Selected photographs from this Tittenhurst Park session were issued by Apple as publicity material and have been published the world over. Three shots (by Ethan Russell) formed the front and back covers of the Capitol compilation album Hey Jude, issued in February 1970.
