It all went wrong
The Beatles were heading for Widecombe-in-the Moor in their Magical Mystery tour bus when it got stuck on this narrow bridge on the edge of Dartmoor(Image: David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images)
The Beatles’ vibrant yellow and blue tour bus, filled with over 46 individuals, once meandered through the Devonshire countryside towards Widecombe Fair. The group was diverse, though not quite as varied as Uncle Tom Cobley and all.
Paul McCartney had imagined that the ancient village festivity could provide an intriguing and potentially inspiring stop on their renowned 1967 road trip, which later became the TV film Magical Mystery Tour. However, they never reached the fair.
Just a few weeks after the heartbreaking loss of their cherished manager Brian Epstein to a drug overdose, and following the release of the iconic Sgt Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band album, Paul, John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr embarked on an extraordinary journey.
With no script and only a vague plot inspired by Paul’s vision of mystery coach trips originating from their home city of Liverpool, and influenced by Ken Kesey and the Merry Pranksters’ psychedelic bus in America, they set off.
On Monday, September 11, the party, consisting of over 40 cast and crew members, departed London and were scheduled to stay at the Royal Hotel in Teignmouth that night. On their way, they discovered that 400 fans were enduring the drizzle outside the hotel, hoping for a glimpse of their idols, reports Devon Live.
The Plaxton Bedford VAL coach containing The Beatles and their cast and crew stuck on a stone bridge causing a traffic jam near Widecombe(Image: David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images)
To evade the crowds, the four band members switched to a regular car just outside the town and swiftly entered the hotel while the fans were still waiting for the coach.
The next day, Paul revealed plans to take the group to Dartmoor’s Widecombe-in-the-Moor for the esteemed Widecombe Fair. However, Alf Manders, a coach driver from London, like many before him, miscalculated the narrowness of Devon’s country roads and opted for what he thought was a shortcut to avoid the village-bound traffic.
Upon departing from the A38 at Ashburton in pursuit of a faster path, he attempted to navigate the New Bridge crossing over the River Dart but unfortunately got the bus wedged on the historic stone bridge, trapping it. This mishap occurred on what’s infamously known as the “most hit bridge in the country” and caused quite a backup of vehicles.
Amidst escalating frustration among the passengers, John Lennon stepped off the bus and proceeded to remove the Magical Mystery Tour signage from its sides. They hastily abandoned their intentions to attend Widecombe Fair due to the situation but found themselves labouring intensely to extract the trapped Plaxton Bedford VAL coach.
Alf faced the daunting task of having to reverse the bus for over half a mile in order to find space to turn around.
From left, John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr sit together on Plymouth Hoe during filming of the television musical film ‘Magical Mystery Tour’ on 12th September 1967(Image: David Redfern/Redferns/Getty Images)
Later, during a pit stop at Moorlands Garage and Cafe for petrol and refreshments, they took the opportunity to snap some photographs before resuming their journey on the A38. With lunchtime approaching, they opted to dine in Plymouth, a city situated about 24 miles away and no stranger to the group, having hosted their performances at the ABC Cinema in both 1963 and 64.
The group was pursued by a throng of press photographers and reporters in vehicles. They journeyed along the Embankment and into Plymouth city centre, with the coach finally halting on the Hoe outside the Grand Hotel, then known as the Berni Grand.
After enjoying a meal in the Duck Bar, Paul, John, George, and Ringo opted to hold a photo session on the Hoe to satisfy the photographers. This led to some of the most memorable images from the tour.
Taking a moment to sign autographs for fans who had caught wind of their visit, The Fab Four relaxed on the grass under the sun, soaking up the sea views with the then plain white Smeaton’s Tower in the background.
Local BBC TV reporter Hugh Scully interviewed the band at the location, and it was broadcast the following evening on Spotlight South West. By that time, the coach party had crossed the Tamar into Cornwall and embarked on three days of filming in and around the seaside town of Newquay.
Despite there being no footage from Devon in the final film, which premiered on BBC1 on Boxing Day 1967, their adventures in the county will always be remembered.