Daily Mirror, 12 Feb 1965

8.15am . . and Ringo pledges all his lovin' to Maureen for life

RINGO SIGNS ON
The ceremony is over. Now Ringo signs the marriage register. And Maureen, his bride, stands beside him, arm on his shoulder.

THE RING
They have said "I will." The ring is slipped on her finger.

A DATE THE FANS MISSED

By DON SHORT

Just after eight o'clock yesterday morning, a small group of people filed into a London register office. . . .
      And while most people were still at breakfast, Beatles drummer RINGO STARR married his 18-year-old sweetheart MAUREEN COX. At 8:15 precisely.
      The wedding took Britain completely by surprise. It was a top secret shared by a few - the parents, Beatles manager Brian Epstein, who was best man, and Beatles George Harrison and John Lennon, who witnessed the marriage certificate, and John's wife Cynthia.
      So there were no screaming fans when, just after 8 o'clock, 24-year-old Ringo, wearing a white carnation in his grey suit arrived, for the ceremony at Caxton Hall, Westminster.
      A few minutes later, Maureen arrived, dressed in a medium-grey suit and holding a small bouquet.

Gold       Then, in a large, quiet room, with red curtains and pale grey wallpaper with a red fleur-de-lis pattern, the ceremony was performed by Superintendent Registrar Mr. Barry Digweed.
      Ringo slipped a heavy ornamented ring on to Maureen's finger, and she gave Ringo a plain gold band.
      And Maureen (her name is really Mary) became Mrs. Richard Starkey - that's Ringo's real name.
      One of the few people who saw the couple leave was Caxton Hall attendant Mr. John Fitzpatrick, 61.
      "I saw them to the car and wished them good luck and bon voyage," he said. "They seemed very happy."
      The only Beatle missing was Paul McCartney. He was said to be away on holiday.
      Mr. Digweed, who had also been sworn to secrecy about the wedding, said later:
      "The first approach was made to me on Friday, and even then I didn't know who was involved.
      "A car came to fetch me on Tuesday, following a phone call. I had no idea where I would be going until I found myself in Brian Epstein's flat in Knightsbridge.
      "My two teenaged daughters are both Beatles fans. For years their walls have been decorated with pictures of the four.
      But I didn't tell them about this wedding. I don't know how I'll face them when I go home tonight."
      And later, 31-year-old millionaire Brian Epstein talked about Ringo's decision to marry - at the very peak of his fantastic popularity in America.
      "I was a little stunned, I must admit when Ringo told me," said Epstein.
'Upset'       He added: "I know a lot of kids are going to be upset and disappointed. But I don't think Ringo's appeal was just in being a bachelor."
      The wedding may have been a well-kept secret, but last night scores of fans were gathering outside the house of a lawyer friend in Hove, Sussex, where Ringo and Maureen are spending their honeymoon.
      A brief honeymoon, for Ringo must be back at work on Monday.


THAT LONELY WAIT.. Legs crossed, head bowed, hand to mouth . . . Ringo Starr sits all alone in London's Caxton Hall register office, nervously waiting for his bride, 18-year-old Maureen Cox, to arrive. It was the moment, at breakfast time yesterday, just before Ringo became the Beatle bridegroom.		THE GROUP Bridegroom Ringo and bride Maureen with their only guests (from the left):Mr. Cox (Maureen's father), Cynthia Lennon (John's wife), Mrs. Cox, John Lennon, George Harrison, Brian Epstein, and Mr. and Mrs. Starkey (Ringo's parents). And during these momentous Beatle moments, there was not one screaming fan within miles