Former Beatles secretary Freda Kelly is to share some of her trade secrets at an event to promote administrative careers.
Freda
will discuss her story in her first live Q&A in front of a select
audience of PAs at the Liverpool launch of The PA Hub.
The hub is a training and networking resource for admin professionals across the north.
Freda spent the best part of 11 years working with both Brian Epstein and the Beatles.
Now aged 70, Freda has only recently revealing her story in the documentary film Good ‘Ol Freda.
Freda
says: “It’s difficult not to be star struck, these people are icons,
but the most important factor in being a Secretary, is keeping your feet
on the ground. I worked with the Beatles from the early days, so I
suppose in many ways, they were a normal group of lads to me, I got to
see the ‘everyday’ side to them. I was always brought up to remember
that people are people, everyone has gifts in different ways, and you
should appreciate and respect everyone equally.
“Spending so much time in close proximity with your
colleagues, as PAs and Secretaries do, changes the dynamics a lot. You
deal with elements which often cross over into their personal life, but
your job is to be their gatekeeper, to watch out for them, and to make
sure that their life is in order, so that they can continue to share
their talents or expertise.”
Her career highlights include an
invitation to Liverpool’s civic reception, for the Beatles, at
Liverpool’s Town Hall, where she was included on Ringo’s table, as part
of the family, going on afterwards to view the Northern Premiere of the
Beatles’ first film A Hard Days Night, and working in an environment
where every day truly was a different challenge.
A trained secretary, Freda managed to land her role working
with the Beatles, after a chance encounter, as she would describe it:
“being in the right place at the right time”, and from that moment her
life changed. From initially starting out as a secretary, to single
handedly running the fan club, she had to be adaptable, and learn on the
move as the Beatles fame grew.
Marion Lowrence, Former PA and
Director of The PA Hub says: “This is a considerable turning point for
PAs across Liverpool, who normally have to travel to London for training
and development opportunities, it is fantastic that we now have the
support of not just well-known PAs and advocates for the industry such
as Freda Kelly, but also the support of local businesses and specialists
in the field – such as Pitman Training, Hays, and specialist industry
partners Executive Secretary.
“There are so many instances where PAs really do act as
pillars for the businesses they work for, working round the clock to not
only provide support but more often than not, carry out essential
projects that are not really defined as their ‘role’ yet they are often
overlooked when it comes to career development, training and
recognition. The PA hub provides PAs with a voice, training and
assistance in highlighting the importance of the PA role within
businesses, whilst giving PAs the confidence to take their career
further.”
Freda adds: “Not everyone is cut out to be a PA or Secretary,
you have to have a passion and skill for working with people, being
able to be assertive with your boss, and be incredibly organised, it’s
not a career you just do, it’s a career you live through, in many ways
it merges with your everyday life – so you have no choice but to love it
and make it work for you. I’m humbled to have been asked to speak to
The PA Hub network, I have wonderful memories, and it’s great to be able
to share them not just with Beatles’ fans, but with my peers.”
Freda will speak at the event on October 22, from 6-9pm at 30 James Street Hotel.
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