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Cynthia Lennon, the former wife of John Lennon and eyewitness to the early days of the Beatles, died in her home Wednesday at the age of 75..
Her son Julian Lennon said in a statement she died “following a short but brave battle with cancer”.
He said he had been “at her bedside throughout” and “the family are thankful for your prayers”.
Julian also tweeted a picture of his mother inside a heart with the message “In Loving Memory”.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UAlD_4CMe80
Cynthia Lennon met the legendary songwriter at Liverpool Art College in 1957.
They were married just before Beatlemania took the world by storm.
At the height of the Fab Four’s success, she was kept so far from the limelight that many female fans did not know Lennon was married.
She stayed at home bringing up their son Julian while The Beatles toured the world.
The pair divorced in 1968 over Lennon’s relationship with Japanese artist Yoko Ono.
Cynthia was re-married several times after the divorce and published memoirs of her time with Lennon.
Lennon’s former Beatles bandmate and co-writer Sir Paul McCartney said: “The news of Cynthia’s passing is very sad. She was a lovely lady who I’ve known since our early days together in Liverpool.
“She was a good mother to Julian and will be missed by us all but I will always have great memories of our times together.”
Ringo Starr tweeted: “Peace and love to Julian Lennon. God bless Cynthia love Ringo and Barbara xx.”
Hunter Davies, who wrote the only official biography of The Beatles in 1968, said Cynthia was “a lovely woman”.
“When I was writing the book I spent two years with them, visiting her home and spending time with her,” he said.
“She was totally different from John in that she was quiet and reserved and calm. She was not a hippy at all.
“I think it was the attraction of opposites between them.
“When they got together at art school everyone was amazed – she was seen as refined and reserved and nobody thought they would last.
“John treated her appallingly. He slept with Yoko in their marital home and, as we discovered later, he also physically attacked her but she was loyal to him.”
Ono later said in a statement: “I’m very saddened by Cynthia’s death. She was a great person and a wonderful mother to Julian.
“She had such a strong zest for life and I felt proud how we two women stood firm in the Beatles family.
“Please join me in sending love and support to Julian at this very sad time. Love, yoko”.
Agencies/Canadajournal
