Chris Brady: I'll tell you something, I think you'll understand

Opinion

As a social studies/history teacher, I found plenty of news this year to keep me and my students interested in the world.

But my students will tell you that the news highlight this year was not Iraq, not Afghanistan, not Obama's election victory, not the Kiwis' World Cup triumph, not even John Key's convincing of the electorate that the Nats had shaken the 1990s from their back and could be a real centrist party after all.

No, as important as all these were (and my students could tell you all about them), the number one story this year was that Paul McCartney told the world that maybe, possibly, even probably, The Beatles would release Carnival of Light in 2009.

There may be one or two readers who either don't know, or more likely have simply forgotten, that Carnival of Light is the Holy Grail for Beatles fans. It's a piece of experimental music made by the band in 1967, played once and not seen since.

Even the bootleggers couldn't get hold of it and fans all over the world wondered if they would hear it at all. But millions of others had never heard of it. Some would suggest that it was only Beatles fanatics, or obsessives, who were excited by the news.

I am not a fanatic or obsessive, but when I read this news in the Herald, I just about hit the roof.

When I calmed down, I fired off a text to my wife and kids and various associates who know of my interest in the band, telling them of this wondrous news.

Immediately, I was bombarded with replies bearing the same theme: what the hell's the Carnival of Light? My wife did have the good sense to reply: "That's nice, dear."

Barbarians, I thought, all of you (except my wife), but I knew my kids at school would understand the significance of the news when I put it on the board next day as "News of the Week". And I was right. Well, sort of.

Because we have a little current events test every fortnight, my kids know not to take anything I put on the board too lightly and they showed great interest as I explained the importance of this development.

They listened, and then offered their insights. "Isn't one of The Beatles dead?" "The Beatles suck." "The Beatles are gay." "My grandmother likes The Beatles."

Lovely children. And then the discussion somehow veered to the recurring topic: "Sir, you're obsessed."

I explain: "No, I'm not. I just have a healthy interest ..."

"No sir [they have this off pretty well now], just look at your T-shirt [Sgt Pepper that particular day], your watch, your screensaver, your mousepad, your calendar, all those Beatles bootlegs you buy from that bloke in Peru, and hey sir, what's your son's name again?"

At this, someone always says, what is his son's name, and someone else says, John Lennon Brady, and they all groan and someone always says, yep, he's obsessed.

No, no, I explain, it's a healthy interest, and someone else says, yeah sir, tell us about that piece of John Lennon's shirt you bought. And so I tell them, again, and they nod their heads and wonder how they ended up with me as their teacher ...

Still, my students were very polite earlier in the year when I showed them my piece-de-resistance.

I had arrived home one day, in a grumpy mood after a very bad day at work and was opening the mail. I noticed a photo-sized envelope with a Royal Mail stamp on it addressed to "Chris Brady, Esq."

The "Esq." vaguely caught my eye. Surely it couldn't be Paul; after all, he hadn't replied to my previous 47 letters. So I opened the letter and my grumpy mood vanished instantly.

I had forgotten about this one, and now look! In my hands was a reply, and a signed photo, from George Martin (George was the legendary producer of The Beatles' masterpieces).

Unbelievable. I read it over and over again, and kept on thinking George Martin has written to me, Chris Brady, in Taumarunui. The Beatles' producer has written to me.

Well, the kids thought this was indeed pretty cool. And it certainly made an impact on their learning, for in the next test, 91 per cent of them correctly answered, who was The Beatles' producer?

So I am pleased to say that interest in The Beatles is alive and well in Taumarunui. Next year's goal is to meet Paul McCartney. Please forward any suggestions on how to achieve this to "Obsessive, c/o Taumarunui".

* Chris Brady teaches at Taumarunui High School when he is not musing about the Beatles.