The Sunday Times Magazine • 5Mary
My earliest memories are split between London and
the farm in Scotland. The excitement of city life versus
absolute solitude. It was still exciting but in a different
way: riding ponies, climbing trees, helping Mum in
the kitchen. And the sound of Dad’s guitar.
It makes me laugh now, but there were some
afternoons when we’d be watching cartoons and Dad
would wander over with his guitar. He’d sit down and
start playing this beautiful music, messing around
with melodies and songs. We’d all give him an evil stare.
“Dad, we’re watching telly. Go in the kitchen.” One
time he said: “Do you know how many people would
love to be sitting here now, listening to me play guitar?”
I just shrugged. “But we can’t hear The Wombles.”
Being a vegetarian family in the late 1970s marked
you out as different. Everybody said it was all Mum’s
idea and she’d forced Dad to stop eating meat, but they
did it as a team. I remember them discussing recipes
and Dad saying he still wanted something he could
slice for his Sunday roast. Mum was always excited
about cooking and she inspired me. Dad’s pretty
good in the kitchen — he’d make a great sous-chef.
If you ask him to sort out the mashed potato, it’ll be
the best you’ve ever tasted. He’s meticulous, just like
he is in the studio.
Of course people made fun of Mum and Dad for
being veggie. They made fun of Mum for a lot of things,
saying she wasn’t a real musician, she wore odd socks
and charity-shop jumpers. The real problem was that
she didn’t fit the mould of the woman they wanted
Paul McCartney to marry. They wanted someone who
went to all the chichi parties, but Mum was more
interested in feeding the animals on the farm.
Mum and Dad insisted we went to the local
comprehensive school in north London, which mademe feel a bit awkward at the time. I’d be in school for
a term, then off on tour. When I came back, all my
friends had made new friends. Now, when I look back,
I realise what a smart move it was. It kept us grounded.
Dad was almost too enthusiastic when it came to
helping with homework. On my own I could knock
it off in half an hour but Dad would get out the
encyclopaedia, he’d be cross-referencing and drawing
graphs. The teachers must have got suspicious when
I gave in these ridiculously detailed essays. Dad said
education changed his life and he wanted to pass that
love of learning on to us.
I look at Dad and think, after all he’s been through,
how has he managed to stay in one piece? He has found
a way of keeping a level head, no matter what else is
happening in his life. My own personal theory — I’ve
not talked to Dad about this — is that he needs
normality because that’s what inspires him. Real life
and real people. That’s where all the music comes from.
Every year that goes by I seem to find a new level of
admiration for what Dad has achieved — and Mum
too. My husband and I have this game where we try
to get through a day without coming across a reference
to Dad or the Beatles. What usually happens is that I get
to around nine o’clock, then something comes on the
radio or I see an ad for the new Beatles documentary.
I do listen to the Beatles at home, but it’s the Wings
stuff I play the most. Mum’s not around any more, but
when she’s doing her backing vocals I can still hear
her and Dad together. There’s a song called I Am Your
Singer — that always gets me. “When day is done,
harmonies will linger on.” nInterviews by Danny Scott
Photograph by Orlando Stuart
Mary McCartney Serves It Up! is available on discovery+STRANGE HABITS
Paul on Mary
She can do a very
powerful whistle to
catch someone’s
attention. I once
asked her to do it
for Prince CharlesMary on Paul
He has an exercise
routine every morning
and finishes it off
with a faultless,
unsupported five-
minute headstandALAMY