50 years ago Sue Hawkins ate meals with the Beatles

Sue Hawkins had supper with the Fab Four in Wellington, not once but three times. Photo/Laurilee McMichael

It was 50 years ago last week that Taupo journalist Sue Hawkins found herself having supper with three of the most famous young men in the world.

In fact, Sue had supper with the Beatles - and various other members of their entourage - in their hotel suite at Wellington's Hotel St George, three nights running.

Despite that assignment being one millions of girls would have envied, for Sue it was just part of the job working for The Dominion in Wellington.

Although she remembers the Fab Four as very pleasant, polite young men, who didn't even make a pass at her, they were not the most interesting musicians she had ever met in several years of writing a pop music column for former employer Truth. That honour went to Eartha Kitt.

In June 1964, Sue Masters, then 21, was part of a team of reporters assigned to cover the Beatles' Wellington visit, and she was sent along to the hotel to wait in the corridor outside the Beatles' suite.

Sue was chatting to the officer guarding the door when one of the Beatles' management came along and asked her whether she would like to meet the lads.

"I said in my best journalistic nonchalant manner 'oh, yeah'," Sue says.

The Beatles were having their supper and Sue says they struck her as wholesome, clean-cut young boys who were only interested in their music.

"The impression I was left with was 'I wouldn't mind if any one of you was my brother'."

Sue had a cup of tea while The Beatles ate their supper or watched television, but they were also were interested in New Zealand and asked Sue lots of questions.

Back on duty in the corridor the next night, Sue was again invited for supper, and the night after.

"The boss said 'oh the boys quite liked you and Paul said you can come again'."

The third supper was the last, with The Beatles leaving Wellington the next day. There was no swearing of undying friendship or offers to become penpals, but Sue became a Beatles fan.