I had been really, really ill with measles, and had been off school for about 2 weeks. This was to be my first day back.
I heard my Mum turn on the radio and was lying in bed thinking how great it was that so much John Lennon music was being played, when an announcer came on and said that John Lennon had been murdered in New York. I just layed there in complete shock.
Then the phone didn't stop ringing - apparently all my family were asking how I was, not because becuase I'd been ill, but because of the news about John. Everyone knew how much I loved The Beatles - especially John.
Then my Mum and Dad came into my room where I was still in bed - my Mum was in tears and my Dad's face was drained of all colour - I was so upset.
I still went to school that day though and I'd like to say all the other kids were sympathetic... but they weren't - you know how kids can be sometimes.
When I got home that evening I taped every single news and radio broadcast with my little cassette recorder using a microphone pointed at the TV. They showed the Help! film that night - it was pointless really, in fact it just made me feel worse.
Because John was killed so late at night (British time), the newspapers didn't carry the story till the 10th December... I bought every single newspaper that morning. And then every magazine. Books I'd been after for ages, suddenly filled the bookshelves - In His Own Write and A Spaniard In The Works.
Ten years later I went to Liverpool for the first time, it was for a tribute concert celebrating John's 50th birthday. At the end of the show Yoko came on stage and the whole crowd started singing Give Peace A Chance - Yoko just broke down in tears, as did everyone else in the audience. She couldn't even speak and eventually just left the stage with Sean.
I wont ever forget that moment when Yoko was trying to thank us and couldn't say the words - we were united. It really is amazing just how much John Lennon touched us all.
(flower)