Paul McCartney’s fun 1960s remark about a Birmingham fire officer remembered amid autograph auction

A rare set of The Beatles autographs obtained by a dad who infamously told the band ‘I don’t know what my daughter sees in you’ could fetch thousands at auction.

The complete set of signatures were signed at Buckingham Palace on the day the Fab Four received their MBEs from The Queen on October 26, 1965.

John, Paul George and Ringo penned their autographs for Birmingham fire officer George Goodman who requested them for his 12-year-old daughter Joy. While Joy was a huge fan, her matter-of-fact dad’s blunt and hilariously honest exchange was discussed at a Beatles press conference following the ceremony.

After leaving the palace, John Lennon told reporters the band signed autographs ‘for all the people who were waiting to get their MBEs’. Paul McCartney then added: “They were all nice, you know. But one fellow said: “I want it for my daughter but I don’t know what she sees in you!”

Nearly six decades on, Joy has now decided it’s time to part with the autographs which will go under the hammer at Richard Winterton Auctioneers on October 9. They are expected to fetch £3,500 to £4,500 when they are told at The Lichfield Auction Centre in Staffordshire.

Joy, who accompanied Mr Goodman to the palace with her sister Jill and their mum Doris as he was also being honoured by The Queen, said: “All dad said was there were lots of people asking The Beatles for autographs so he did too. Telling them like that that the autographs were for me certainly sounds like my dad.

“It wouldn’t be the thing he would normally do, asking for autographs from these long-haired pop stars – he was always smartly dressed and very dignified. He showed the Queen great respect at all times and we always listened to her speeches.”

Joy, from Lichfield, added: “I had to wear my school uniform on the day, which I wasn’t over the moon about. But I was the only daughter who went to grammar school so I had to wear the uniform. I was a huge fan of The Beatles at the time and I still am, I have always liked them. I was never allowed to go to a concert but then I was still very young when they stopped touring in 1966.”

Joy also remembers going to a restaurant in London for lunch after her dad’s appointment at the palace. She added: “I thought I had lost my wristwatch but the taxi man kindly brought it back to us. Dad offered him money for a drink or something to say thank you and he said ‘no thanks, guv’nor’. I was so grateful to the driver and I’ve never forgotten his thoughtfulness.”

Mr Goodman worked in fire safety and ended up as chief fire prevention officer for Birmingham. He also used to travel to other countries to lecture on fire safety. Sadly, he passed away at the age of 64 just three months before Joy married. Now 70, she celebrates her golden wedding to husband Dave next year. The couple have two sons.

Joy added: “I have had the autograph book tucked away for years. We’ve recently moved and downsized and I think it is a good time to pass it on to an collector who will appreciate it.”

Rob French, valuer at Richard Winterton Auctioneers, said: “I am very excited with this discovery especially as the provenance is extraordinary. To get such good quality signatures of all four Beatles on the same page is very important but I was also so moved by the story itself. Hearing it from Joy first-hand you can see how proud she still is of her father.”