#i also take no exercise but am impressive to bus drivers
Though Dick Lester obviously tried to organise it [filming for Help! on location at Cliveden] so that the Beatles could just arrive and do their stuff, there was still a huge amount of waiting around on set. To pass the time, the crew organised a relay race to be held on the huge lawn at Cliveden one lunch break. It began as five 60-yard dashes between the production staff, electricians and actors, but then the Beatles decided to join in. The crew thought there was no contest; the Beatles all smoked, they took no exercise and were wearing their ordinary street shoes. Mal Evans and their driver Alf Bicknell were recruited to make up the numbers. To everyone’s surprise, the Beatles’ team won, with Alf just scraping home in bare feet against one of the film crew professionally attired in spiked running shoes. Ringo’s speed was particularly commented upon. People had forgotten how adept the Beatles were at escaping from fans and how necessary that extra burst of speed was in potentially life-threatening situations. Lord and Lady Astor presented the winning team with a bottle of vintage champagne and formal photographs were taken.
[—fromPaul McCartney: Many Years From Now, Barry Miles]
