![\"Paul](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_Happy-Beatles.jpg\")
Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison in 1963(Image: Hulton Archive\/Getty Images)<\/p>\nJoseph is trying to reach fansPaul McCartney, Ringo Starr, John Lennon and George Harrison in 1963(Image: Hulton Archive\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n
A man is trying to reach 100 Beatles fans who sent fan mail to Ringo Starr in 1965 as part of a special project. Memorabilia collector Joseph Robert O\u2019Donnell, from Newcastle, has amassed a collection of fan mail once belonging to Ringo, all dating from September 1965 to January 1966.<\/p>\n
The letters were previously in the possession of Roger Hopkins, a one-time employee of Ringo. According to Roger\u2019s wife, the letters were originally kept in order to save the envelopes for the stamps, which were collected by his late father. Mr Hopkins, of Wokingham, used to work for Ringo<\/a>, carrying out odd jobs and looking after his house, Sunny Heights, in Weybridge.<\/p>\n He lived in a caravan on the property. His girlfriend at the time, Iris, whom he later married, would occasionally socialise with Ringo<\/a> and his wife, Maureen Cox. Roger recalled: “Ringo<\/a> was quite a funny sort of bloke. I remember once being in the kitchen when I heard him shouting for me, so I went to see what he needed.<\/p>\n “He asked me to fill up the Mini as he was heading out. I didn\u2019t have any money on me, so I asked, \u2018What shall I fill it up with?\u2019 After a few seconds, he replied, \u2018Milk.\u2019 I looked at him, puzzled, before he burst out laughing and handed me a tenner.<\/p>\n Ringo\u2019s<\/a> house was situated on the left, halfway down a very big hill. John used to visit quite often, usually turning up on his moped. One winter\u2019s day, as John was leaving, the roads were icy, and he needed to rev up a lot to get up the hill.<\/p>\n “Just as he exited Ringo\u2019s drive, his moped skidded, and he fell off. At the time, there were lots of female fans gathered outside Ringo\u2019s place. They all rushed over to help John up and retrieve his moped.<\/p>\n “When I went to check on him, he grinned and said he was fine. The fans were gobsmacked at the chance to touch and talk to John Lennon. He signed autographs for all of them before getting back on his moped and heading home.\u201d<\/p>\n Joseph is now trying to reconnect with the fans who wrote to Ringo during this exciting period of Beatles history, as the band\u2019s global popularity reached new heights. Late 1965 was a transformative time for The Beatles<\/a> – their album ‘Rubber’ Soul, released in December, marked a shift towards more experimental music, paving the way for their later psychedelic work.<\/p>\n “The group had just completed their second film, ‘Help!’<\/a>, and continued to dominate the charts worldwide. Their success saw them constantly touring, recording, and making television appearances.<\/p>\n Joseph said: \u201cThere are 84 letters in total, and more than half of them have clear return addresses. I have written letters to these fans, hoping that someone who knows them still lives at the address.<\/p>\n “The goal is to obtain a further 16 letters and exhibit these fascinating pieces of Beatles history as \u2018100 Letters to Ringo\u2019. I\u2019d also love to speak to any Royal Mail workers from this time, to learn more about the volume of letters sent to The Beatles<\/a>\u201d<\/p>\n The envelopes contain notes to the Beatle, one even asking to “give this to John”. Some fans wrote directly to Paul, John and George at Ringo\u2019s<\/a> address; some wrote door numbers the wrong way around, and one is even addressed simply to \u2018Ringo Starr, Liverpool, England\u2019 yet it still found its way to the drummer.<\/p>\n Ringo<\/a> has a well-documented stance on fan mail. In 2008, he announced that he would no longer accept or sign autographs or correspondence.<\/p>\n In a video message posted on his website, he stated: “Please do not send fan mail to any address that you have. Nothing will be signed after October 20. If that is the date on the envelope, it’s gonna be tossed.<\/p>\n “I’m warning you with peace and love, I have too much to do. So no more fan mail. Thank you, thank you, and no objects to be signed. Nothing. Anyway, peace and love, peace and love.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Memorabilia](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_dhay_ringo_mail-2.jpg\")
Memorabilia collector Joseph O\u2019Donnell has amassed a collection of fan mail once belonging to Ringo Starr, all dating from September 1965 to January 1966.(Image: Joseph O’Donnell)<\/p>\n![\"Ringo](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/04\/0_Ringo-Starr-And-His-All-Starr-Band-Perform-At-Pechanga-Resort-Casino.jpg\")
Ringo Starr and his All Starr Band performs at Pechanga Resort Casino on May 19, 2023 in Temecula(Image: Kevin Winter\/Getty Images)<\/p>\n