"Lucy" passes away at 46

[John's Monkey]

http://www.myembarq.com/news/read.php?id=17354405&ps=1004&srce=news_class&action=1&lang=en&_LT=HOME_MUNWC00L1_UNEWS

Lucy Vodden, who provided the inspiration for the Beatles' classic song "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds," has died after a long battle with lupus. She was 46.

Vodden's connection to the Beatles dates back to her early days, when she made friends with schoolmate Julian Lennon, John Lennon's son.

Julian Lennon, then 4 years old, came home from school with a drawing one day, showed it to his father, and said it was "Lucy in the sky with diamonds."

[liverpool-lad]

Yes very sad, i actally knew last week as i work wth Lucy's husband Ross but did not post the news until the family made a press release.

I understand the funeral will take place next Tuesday at an undisclosed location.

My thoughts are with Ross at this sad time



Tony

[Dr Winston]

I thought the real Lucy died 4 years ago!! ???

Read the bit.... "There was another girl called Lucy who thought the song was about her, but we always knew the song was about our Lucy.".....

When the Beatles released Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, it was popularly assumed to be a barely concealed reference to LSD.

John Lennon denied a drugs link, claiming the true inspiration was a young girl called Lucy who appeared in a painting by his then four-year-old son, Julian.

Her identity was not revealed at the time but the story can now be told of the little girl who may have been the real Lucy in the Sky.

Lucy Richardson grew up to be a successful movie art director.

But this month she died at the age of 47 after a two-year battle with breast cancer.

Last night her sister Mary Foster paid tribute to the popular and talented film lover, and told of the family's connection to the Beatles.

Lucy was a few years older than Julian Lennon when he enrolled at the private Heath House School, in Weybridge, Surrey.

However, because John Lennon and the other Beatles used to visit the Richardson family's antique and jewellery shop, she knew the little boy.

So when he became homesick and unsettled she would be called out of class to sit with him while he drew pictures. One of those pictures was of Lucy.

Mrs Foster said: "One day John Lennon came into the shop and said, 'Hello, Lucy in the sky with diamonds'. We thought it was just John being John."

When a song with that same name appeared on 1967's Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album, the Richardson family began to wonder.

And when Lennon announced he had been inspired by his son's picture of a girl called Lucy, the pieces of the emotional jigsaw puzzle came together.

It was in a 1975 interview that Lennon said: "Julian came in one day with a picture he painted about a school friend of his named Lucy. He had sketched in some stars in the sky and called it Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds."

Mrs Foster, who still runs the antiques shop, said: "It was then we realised why he had been calling our Lucy, Lucy in the sky.

"Lucy remembered the times when she would sit with Julian as he drew pictures.

"She was rather chuffed to realise she had inspired the song title, but was very modest about it.

"There was another girl called Lucy who thought the song was about her, but we always knew the song was about our Lucy."

Julian Lennon, now 42, has recollected his drawing in interviews.

"I obviously had an affection for Lucy at that age," he said.

As Lucy grew up, contact with the Beatles was lost.

She went on to work her way up in the film industry, becoming an art director on films such as Elizabeth with Cate Blanchett and Geoffrey Rush, Chocolat and last year's The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.

Lucy, who never married, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and endured a lumpectomy and gruelling chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Last December she was told the cancer was back, and had spread to her bones.

She died on June 1 and was buried in Weybridge.

Her family sprinkled crystals on her grave to symbolise the diamonds of the song she inspired.

[liverpool-lad]

hello, the aticle above has been an urban myth for years, the math does not add up they would not have been in the same class. Lucy Richardson would now be 51, Lucy Vodden and Julian are both 46.

Julian had been in contact with Lucy Vodden 4 weeks ago

[mluque125]

This is such sad sad news, so young too :sad3: My thoughts are with her family as well. Rest in peace in that diamond sky...

[vekku]

R.I.P., beautiful girl.

[heyjude]

I saw this on the primetime news. I was very upset to hear this.

[Lucy]

It is sad news. I thought perhaps it was another incorrect story since there have been at least 2 or 3 times I have read in the news that she had passed away - I am sure it was a topic here once before when the "news" broke.

My thoughts go to her family and friends.

[FPSHOT]

I must say when I saw the thread title also from the other thread about this, it scared the hell out of me, not really looking at the age mentioned, cause my automatic reaction was not so much about the Lucy it appeared to be about..

[I like Ringo]

It´s very sad to hear.

[beatlebangs1964]

How sad - and to think this child inspired a 1967 Beatles' classic!

I wonder if Julian attended her funeral.

[dcaraher]

Lucy O’Donnell Vodden 1963-2009

Lucy in the sky died in London
She saw it coming from afar
A friend of John Lennon’s young son
He drew her shining with stars

Lucy in the sky died in London
How could it be that I miss her?
I think it’s because we lost someone
Who let us drift down the river.

She was never taken with the song
Couldn’t relate, she thought it rather long
But she laughed when she heard, “It’s LSD”
“No it’s not, it’s just me”.

Picture her with the sun in her eyes
Slowly, she waves goodbye
Turnstile, she passes through
Newspaper taxis come into view

Lucy in the sky died in London
She could no longer go on
She left bereft a loving husband
Look for the girl, she’s gone.

Dennis Caraher Massachusetts, USA

[liverpool-lad]

How sad - and to think this child inspired a 1967 Beatles' classic!

I wonder if Julian attended her funeral.

The funeral is on Tuesday 6 october in Leatherhead Surrey, I believe Julian has been invited.


Tony

[FPSHOT]

There's an official statement

Lucy Vodden loses brave battle with lupus


Ross Vodden and the O'Donnell family regretfully have to announce the sad passing of their beloved Lucy aged 46, after an incredibly brave fight against lupus.


Lucy was the childhood friend of Julian Lennon and the inspiration for the Beatles' 1967 psychedelic classic "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds".


Julian and Lucy were linked together by something that happened more than 40 years ago when Julian brought home a drawing from school and told his father, "That's Lucy in the sky with diamonds."


Julian and Cynthia (Lennon) are shocked and saddened by the loss of Lucy and their thoughts are with her husband and family today and always.


Angie Davidson, Campaign Director of the St. Thomas' Lupus Trust said, "Everyone at the Louise Coote Lupus Unit was dreadfully shocked by the death of Lucy, she was a great supporter of ours and a real fighter, it's so sad that she has finally lost the battle she fought so bravely for so long".


She added "I am sure that many people will wish to pass on their support to Lucy's family and they can do so via the St. Thomas Lupus Trust by e-mailing fundraising@lupus.org.uk."

http://www.examiner.com/x-2082-Beatles-Examiner~y2009m9d30-The-announcement-on-the-death-of-Lucy-Vodden-the-inspiration-behind-the-Beatle-song (http://www.examiner.com/x-2082-Beatles-Examiner%7Ey2009m9d30-The-announcement-on-the-death-of-Lucy-Vodden-the-inspiration-behind-the-Beatle-song)

[vekku]

You know Mark Hayward's book The Beatles Unseen? There is a picture of Julian bicycling. Behind him there's a little girl with her bike. Is that Lucy?