MAUREEN COX (1946 - 1994)

Maureen Starkey Tigrett, née Mary Cox (4 August 1946–30 December 1994) was the first wife of Ringo Starr (Richard Starkey) the drummer of the Beatles.

Early Life

Mary Cox was born on August 4, 1946 in Liverpool, England. She was the only child of Joseph and Florence Cox. She left school at fourteen to be a hairdresser, and at around this time changed her name to "Maureen". To her friends, she was known as "Mo".

Knowing Ringo and courtship

At the age of fourteen, Maureen was interested in the Merseybeat sound. She often visited the Cavern. In the Cavern, she met John Brynne, who belonged to the group: "Rory Storm and The Hurricanes", and they started dating. This lasted until 1962 when they broke up.

On seeing The Beatles regularly, she developed a crush on Ringo. She asked Ringo for an autograph. About three weeks later Ringo began noticing her and asked her for a dance at the cavern. Soon after this they started dating.

Maureen was still going to the Cavern to observe the gigs of The Beatles. But this was sometimes dangerous. 

In September 1963, Ringo invited her to go to Greece together with Paul and his girlfriend (at the time) Jane Asher. Maureen went to Greece without the permission of her parents, afraid that they would not give her permission to go, but her parents ended up finding out through the newspapers.

While not that loved by fans, Maureen answered the letters they wrote to Ringo.

The courtship of her and Ringo would end for a time in 1964 when, since then, the Beatles were doing more and becoming more famous. When Ringo was operated on his tonsils, Maureen went to visit. Ringo proposed to Maureen in the hospital, and she accepted. 

Marriage with Ringo

In January 1965, Maureen discovered she was pregnant. She was eighteen at the time. There was no other option than to marry Ringo.

On February 11, 1965 at 8:00 am, Ringo and Maureen were married, at Caxton Hall Registry Office. The best man was Brian Epstein and the reception was at Brian's house. 

Photo: Maureen and Ringo with their parents.On the left, the parents of Maureen. On the right, the parents of Ringo.

Ringo and Maureen's wedding.

Children with Ringo

On September the 13th, 1965, Maureen gave birth to her first child, Zak Richard Starkey, in the National Maternity Hospital in Queen Charlotte. This was the same day the single "Yesterday" was published. On August 19th, 1967, Jason Starkey was born. On November the 17th, 1970, Lee Parkin Starkey was born.

Birth of Zak Starkey, September 13, 1965.

Birth of Jason, August 19, 1967

Birth of Lee, November 17, 1970

Starkey marriage problems 

By the time Lee was born in 1970, Ringo had already aburido of all and the marriage was already in trouble. When the Beatles broke up in 19701, so did the marriage Starkey; Ringo's infidelities and his increasing alcoholism became a problem for the whole family. In 1972, Starkey visited the Harrison. George, at the time (alcohol or drugs) confessed how much he loved Maureen. (A rumour says Ringo proposed to swap partners, IS JUST A RUMOUR). Maureen was a small affair with George. Despite all the problems facing marriage, Maureen did not want a divorce.

End of marriage to Ringo

Ringo insisted that it was better to divorce, so divorce Maureen accept reluctantly. In July 1975, the couple separated at Ringo's affair with the American model Nancy Andrews discovered.

Maureen life after the end of her marriage to Ringo

Maureen and Isaac.

In the early 80s, Maureen began a relationship with the owner of the Hard Rock Cafe, Isaac Tigrett. There was an attempt of reconciliation between Maureen and Ringo when he finished with Nancy, but it was too late because Ringo had been in love with his partner from the movie "The Cavern", Barbara Bach. So Maureen return to the arms of Isaac.

In 1987, Maureen gave birth to her fourth child, Augusta Tigrett.

Ringo and Maureen became grandparents thanks to his son Zak in 1987.

The May 27, 1989, Isaac married Maureen and deciding to split his time between Los Angeles, California and Boston.

Last days of life and death

In the opening of "Houses Of Blues" Maureen suddenly fainted. At first she was diagnosed with a mild anaemia, that would later become a form of leukaemia called Mylodisplasia. She was admitted to the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in October 1994. Hcicieron All physicians did everything they could to save her life, but unfortunately she lost the battle.

On December 30, 1994, Maureen Starkey Tigrett died at age 47 from leukaemia. Her husband Isaac, her children, her mother and her ex-husband were with her when she passed away. Ringo had had a chance to tell her how much he had loved for the years they were together.

Paul McCartney wrote "Little Willow" in dedication to Maureen.