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McCartney, portrait of a haunted man
Updated 10:23am on 27 Oct 2006Emotionally drained by the torment of divorce, Sir Paul McCartney cut a lonely and dishevelled figure as he walked home from the pub in the early hours.
The mind that was once a production line of musical invention was clearly preoccupied.
The boyish face that has become familiar to every living generation showed nothing but bewilderment.
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The former Beatle had spent the evening at a pub in Notting Hill, West London, with his daughter, fashion designer Stella, and her husband Alasdhair Willis.
He drank several pints of Guinness over a period of three hours, then returned with the couple to their £1.5million terrace house nearby.
There he spent another couple of hours before emerging, eyes red and glazed, and hailing a cab back to his own home in St John's Wood, North London, walking the last few hundred yards alone.
The evening was a strong show of family support for McCartney as he struggles with the acrimonious end to his four-year marriage to Heather Mills.
"They were all being very affectionate and supportive," said a fellow drinker in the pub, The Cow.
"There was the occasional ripple of laughter from the table. It wasn't all doom and gloom."
Stella, along with her sister Mary and brother James – the children McCartney fathered with his late wife Linda – are said to have been his rock in recent months as the divorce sinks further into bitterness.
He pays tribute to their role in an interview out today, and tells USA Today that he is hoping for a "happy" outcome for the sake of the couple's daughter Beatrice, who is three tomorrow.
"It's a very difficult time for me," he says.
"But with the support of my friends and family, I'm managing to get through."
"I'm just hoping for a happy resolution, particularly for the sake of our beautiful daughter, Beatrice, and my other children, who are all beautiful. Fingers crossed."
The interview was conducted before the storm over leaked legal papers alleging he mistreated Heather. Last week, the star's lawyers insisted he would "vigorously" defend himself against claims that he was violent towards Miss Mills during their marriage.
The papers, revealed in the Daily Mail, allege 64 year-old McCartney subjected her to four attacks, one in which he stabbed her in the arm with a broken wine glass and another when he pushed her into a bath.
McCartney's legal team, led by Prince Charles's divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton, are said to be constructing a "robust" defence.
This week, Miss Mills, 38, threatened to sue three newspapers over revelations about the divorce.
Reader views (9)
Respectful Silence...the best way to support and honor Paul McCartney and his family. Love and highest respect for you, dear Paul. My prayers are with you and yours. Give Bea and extra hug.
- Nanci, St. Louis, MO, 31/10/2006 01:38
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Paul, I am sure you have been through worse scrapes. Stay Cool. Your legacy is assured forever.
- Dave, Brussels, Belgium, 27/10/2006 16:15
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Hold your head high, Paul. Nobody believes a thing that comes out of her mouth.
- Carol Ferrell, Santa Rosa, California USA, 27/10/2006 14:22
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I just recently viewed the video of Paul's beautiful song to Linda, Calico Skies. I hope he holds on to the wonderful love they shared, so evidenced in this video, and that the world remembers it too. Paul is about love and peace, always has been. Hang in there, Paul, you've shared enough of who you are for us to know the real truth, you don't have to say a darned thing to the media. Your reputation preceeds you my dear friend!
- Chris Moore, Canandaigua, NY, 27/10/2006 13:11
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He looks alright to me - he can haunt me anytime!
Let's not forget he is 64 - he looks great for his age!
Seriously - poor guy - look what he's been through. Here is a man who has managed to keep most of his personal life private and now it is all being dragged through the mud, out of his control. Let's all show our support for him - we love you Paul!
- Rhiannon, London, 27/10/2006 12:46
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C'mon, Paul! Remember that you don't drown by falling in the water. You drown by staying there.
All the best.
- Rob, Italy, 27/10/2006 10:47
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This really bothers me when I saw this picture of Paul. He looks so much like he did after Linda died. He looked so good when he toured back in 2002 (when I saw him in concert), and I was so happy for him when I thought he had found love again. Now he is going through pain again over his upcoming divorce. I feel so sorry for Paul. He has been through so much in his life, and I am so angry at Heather for hurting him. He deserved so much better than this. I hope Paul knows that his fans are supporting him and loves him.
- Cindyb, Keokuk, USA, 27/10/2006 04:13
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My heart breaks for Paul. I also wish the press would just leave him alone and let him get through this. Still, as a fan, I stand behind this stoic Knight. Bless his soul.
- Debbie, New Jersey, USA, 27/10/2006 02:22
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Paul, I'm so sorry this sadness has befallen your family. Just know that millions of fans love you.
- Gail, Delaware, USA, 27/10/2006 01:21
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