George Harrison’s autograph and letter fetch £6,000 at auction

These hidden gems of Beatles history have sold for more than £6,000 after they were discovered in a house clearance. The find included autographed photos of George Harrison plus a written letter of apology to two schoolgirls who landed in trouble with their school for visiting the guitarist’s nearby home. High interest saw the pre-sale estimate of £2,500 smashed by the winning bid of £6,100.

James Laverack of John Taylors auctioneers in Louth, Lincs, said: “The find chronicles a tiff in which the Beatle found himself entangled soon after moving into Kinfauns, the bungalow that he had bought on the historic Claremont Park estate at Esher in Surrey in 1964.

“The estate’s big house – an 18th-century former royal mansion just across the park – was then a private girl’s school.”

George was out when the girls arrived – and his unimpressed home help phoned the school to complain.

But the heartthrob later wrote to the mother of Claire Braham – one of the pair – to say how sorry he was that she had got in trouble, and added an autograph. He also said he still had a book left by Melanie, the other schoolgirl who turned up unannounced, adding both himself and John Lennon had signed it.

George wrote on headed paper dated November 25, 1964: “Thank you for your letter. I would like to explain that it was my daily help who phoned the school and I knew nothing about it until the following day.

“You could tell Claire I’m sorry, and find enclosed another autograph for her.

“John has now signed the book for Melanie, and she is free to call at the beginning of next week to collect it. Thank you again and best wishes from George Harrison.”

Melanie retrieved her book and was given a signed photo before George posed for a snap with her. The auction house said that Melanie, thought to have been in her mid 70s, had recently died.

It was while her house was subsequently being cleared that the valuable Fab Four memorabilia was discovered among her personal belongings.