'When the Beatles Split Up I Was on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, You've Never Known Such Heaviness. It Was Linda Who Brought Me Back to Earth'; in the Most Moving Interview You'll Ever Read Paul McCartney Reveals How Linda Saved Him from Drink and Drugs - and Her Last Gift to Him before She Died

Byline: REBECCA HARDY

On the night Linda McCartney died in her husband's arms after a courageous two-and-a-half-year battle against breast cancer, Paul lost 'my girlfriend, lover, wife and the mother of my children'. Yesterday he told Daily Mail readers how he had known Linda had just days to live, but kept it secret from her. He spoke movingly of Linda's astonishing bravery and optimism throughout her illness . . . and revealed his struggle to come to terms with her death, which had added poignance because the same cancer had killed his mother when he was 14. Today in the second of a series of exclusive and heart-searching interviews, concluding in tomorrow's Daily Mail, he tells of their magical love affair and how Linda 'put some sense back into my life' after the bitter break-up of the Beatles. It is the most moving love story you will ever read. . .

WHEN Sir Paul McCart-ney received his knighthood in March last year his wife Linda ordered some stationery to be made up with his new title.

She also bought a silver pocket watch and engraved it in her own hand: 'To Paul my knight in shining armour - Linda.' Paul has never used the notepaper; he wears the watch every day. Linda was desperately proud of the honour bestowed upon her husband, but she was unable to attend the ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Her breast cancer had been diagnosed some 18 months earlier and Linda was too ill to go that day.

Three of her children Mary, Stella and James took her place. Little more than a year later she was dead.

'It was hard for her not being able to be there,' says Paul. He shows me the watch, removing it from a red silk case he has had made to protect the precious metal from scratching. Linda's moving inscription includes two hearts and kisses.

'The knighthood was important to her, more for my sake than hers,' he says. 'Lin was the most down-to-earth person I've ever known.

Sometimes I'd tease her and call her Lady McCartney, but it was all low-key and just between the two of us.

'Linda …

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Publication information: Article title: 'When the Beatles Split Up I Was on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, You've Never Known Such Heaviness. It Was Linda Who Brought Me Back to Earth'; in the Most Moving Interview You'll Ever Read Paul McCartney Reveals How Linda Saved Him from Drink and Drugs - and Her Last Gift to Him before She Died. Contributors: Not available. Newspaper title: The Mail on Sunday (London, England). Publication date: October 18, 1998. Page number: 18. © 2009 Solo Syndication Limited. COPYRIGHT 1998 Gale Group.

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