Cynthia Lennon

During the beginning of their relationship, they often had intercourse in alleyways or shop doorways if Sutcliffe's room was not available. Powell had to be careful of Lennon's angry reactions at the time, because of his "jealous anxieties that made him turn pale, clench his fists and make exasperating scenes", if she greeted another art student. His jealousy could also manifest itself in violent behaviour towards her, as when he slapped her across the face (causing her head to hit a wall), after watching her dance with Sutcliffe. After the incident, she broke up with Lennon for three months, but resumed their relationship after his profuse apology. Another time a cleaning woman at the college caught Lennon hitting her and suggested that she stay away from him.

Her work at art school began to suffer, and teachers told her that the relationship with Lennon was doing her no good. Lennon continued to be casually inconsiderate towards her, later saying, "I was in sort of a blind rage for two years. I was either drunk or fighting. It had been the same with other girl friends I'd had. There was something the matter with me." Tony Bramwell—a friend of Lennon's since his youth—later said: "Cynthia was beautiful, physically, and on the inside. Although she knew he Lennon was apt to find love on the road, she was totally dedicated to his success... and extremely influential. Read Less

I had only one clear thought. My son, our son, Julian was at home in bed, I had to get back to Ruthin so that I could tell him about his father's death".

Cynthia's memoir gained renewed interest, and went to a third printing of 200,000 copies in the weeks after Lennon's death. Read Less