A recent appeal on this page for memorabilia from the Beatles’ Bradford gigs sparked memories for Terry Bostock, who was a young autograph hunter at the time.

“In 1963, I was a 13-year-old, living in Girlington, and regularly stood outside both the Alhambra and Gaumont collecting autographs,” recalls Terry, of Brighouse.

“On the Beatles’ first visit (in February 1963), I knew that Helen Shapiro was also performing at the Gaumont and thought I’d try and get her autograph.

“I went down that afternoon and stood outside the stage door in Quebec Street, along with a number of girls. “One of the girls noticed that a small door near the stage door, where they unloaded props, was insecure and they went through. Not one to miss a chance, I followed and ended up on the stage where we found all the acts on that evening. “I went up and got Helen’s signature, along with those of the Honeys, Danny Williams and Kenny Lynch.

“Most of the girls were flocking around four lads in leather jackets and jeans with quiffed hair, I hadn’t a clue who these lads were, but I got behind the girls and had just got my first autograph when a man shouted from the balcony for us get out.

“I’d like to think this was Brian Epstein, but it could just as easily been the Gaumont manager.” Terry adds: “After this the rest of them refused to sign my book. The autograph I did manage to get was John Lennon’s.

“The following year I’d become a Beatles fan and me and a couple of friends camped all night outside the Gaumont for tickets. The Telegraph and Argus took photos of us at the front of the queue and a picture appeared in the T&A the following night.

“The queue grew and there was a lot of pushing. A policeman took exception to us and moved us to the back of the queue, probably because we had long hair. I later joined the Bradford police, serving for 30 years, but never did find the copper who moved us.

“Fortunately, we still had a friend at the front and one of the female Gaumont staff made sure he stayed there – providing he also bought her some tickets. “The last thing we said to him was, ‘get us on the front row’, so he got our tickets and the Gaumont woman’s tickets and the idiot did manage to get us on the front row – but the front row of the balcony. We were miles away! It was a fantastic show though.

“I still have my Beatles Christmas Show programme from that evening.

“I always wanted to add to John’s autograph with the others as he signed in a quarter of the page, leaving room for theirs, but I never did.”