From sneaking into theatres, camping out all night in the street and sewing homemade T-shirts, you have been getting in touch with your memories to show us that Beatlemania hit Ipswich hard. 

The Beatles first came to The Gaumont Theatre (now the Regent) in 1963, when they were just making a name for themselves, and then again the following year when they were at the height of their fame. 

Amongst their biggest fans was Linda Thompson, who grew up in Ipswich.

When the tickets for the 1964 show went on sale, 16-year-old Linda was one of the first in line, having queued up all night with a friend. 

Ipswich Star: Beatles fan Linda, second from the right, standing beside her friend. The two were among the first in line for tickets, having queued up all night.Beatles fan Linda, second from the right, standing beside her friend. The two were among the first in line for tickets, having queued up all night. (Image: Newsquest)

“We never even thought about how cold it was, we were just obsessed with these four Beatles,” remembered Linda. “Nothing else mattered!” 

Indeed, the pair were such superfans that they hatched a plan to meet the fab four. 

The night before the concert, The Gaumont was showing the band’s comedy music film A Hard Day’s Night. Before the theatre closed, the friends crept to the toilets and wedged open a window. 

Early the next morning, they clambered through the open window, and hid themselves away in the theatre, desperate for a chance to meet the Fab Four.  

Alas their plan was thwarted when a worker heard them, and they marched to manager David Lowe’s office for a stern ticking off.  

Ipswich Star: The Gaumont manager David Lowe gave Linda and her friend a stern ticking off for sneaking back into the theatre. Image: NewsquestThe Gaumont manager David Lowe gave Linda and her friend a stern ticking off for sneaking back into the theatre. Image: Newsquest (Image: Newsquest)

Another fan was Denise Woolnough, nee Durrant. She, together with her friends Susan and Julie spend hours stitching the letters BEATLES onto white T-shirts. They, too, spent a night on the pavement, determined to get tickets which were “like gold dust”.  

“It was a cold night, but spirits were high!” Denise said. “We kept warm (barely) with flasks of hot soup. But it was worth it to get the front row seats we managed to get.” 

In the morning, the trio were photographed by the Evening Star, and interviewed by Anglia Television. 

Ipswich Star: From left to right: L-R Beatles fans Susan Collins, Denise Woolnough (nee Durrant) and Julie Petit.From left to right: L-R Beatles fans Susan Collins, Denise Woolnough (nee Durrant) and Julie Petit. (Image: Newsquest)Ipswich Star: Beatles fans L-R Beatles fans Susan, Denise and Julie were determined to stand out from the crowd in their homemade T-shirts. Beatles fans L-R Beatles fans Susan, Denise and Julie were determined to stand out from the crowd in their homemade T-shirts. (Image: Newsquest)

Ipswich Star: Denise Woolnough remembers spending hours making the Beatles T-shirts with her friends which caught the attention of the local media. Image: Denise WoolnoughDenise Woolnough remembers spending hours making the Beatles T-shirts with her friends which caught the attention of the local media. Image: Denise Woolnough (Image: Denise Woolnough)

Another person who remembers the concert well was Barry Turner, who had already seen Beatles in Bournemouth in 1963. 

He said: "My sister was also very keen on them and when hearing they were to appear at The Gaumont said she would queue up to try and get tickets, although trying to get there from Stowmarket, she was not too hopeful. 

"As a consolation, she did say that if she wasn't successful, she would purchase the LP ‘A Hard Day's Night’. However, I was delighted that she came home with two tickets. 

"My memories of the concert was the drone of constant screaming (mainly from the females). I'm 100% sure but I have a feeling that either Billy J Kramer or Mary Wells were the supporting act. Therefore, I actually saw the Beatles twice in two years."