George Harrison’s Toast
As seen in Rolling Stone, Daily Express, The New York Post, Liverpool Echo, People, NME, Far Out Magazine, Digital Music News, The Chronicle, Entertainment NOW & more.
One of the most peculiar and beloved stories in Beatles history is that of George Harrison’s toast, a piece that began as a simple act of a fan’s affection and grew into an iconic piece of memorabilia. The tale stretches back to 1962 when a 15-year-old girl named Sue Houghton, who had become close to the Harrison family, pocketed a leftover crust from George’s breakfast.
Sue, who Louise Harrison lovingly called George’s ‘number one fan’, visited the Harrison home frequently. One day, unable to resist, she took the leftover crust from George’s plate, much to Louise’s amusement. Over the years, that crust, along with other bits of personal memorabilia, like threads from George’s jeans and even fluff from under his bed, found its way into Sue’s scrapbooks. These small tokens were cherished, and Sue took great care in preserving them as part of her collection.
I can’t help but be captivated by the story behind it. The caption next to the toast reads: ‘Piece of George’s breakfast. 2-8-63’. This date marks a special moment - the day after The Beatles returned to Liverpool after a seven-week tour and performed at the Grafton Rooms, with their final Cavern Club performance just a day later.
The toast made headlines when Sue’s scrapbook collection was auctioned at Christie’s in 1992, selling for £1,300. The auction caught global media attention, with outlets like The Los Angeles Times and The New York Times covering the curious memorabilia. Even George himself couldn’t avoid the toast's fame. In a 1992 interview, he joked, “I ate all my toast! I never left any!” reflecting his bemusement at the ongoing fascination with his life as an ex-Beatle.
The toast became a family joke among Paul McCartney and his children too. In 1999, Paul reminisced in an interview how his kids teased him about unfinished meals, referencing the story of George’s toast—exaggerating the tale and even claiming it had sold for $40,000. Paul laughed, recalling how his children would joke: “Dad, you don’t have to finish the bread roll,” or “Do you really want half an egg?”
For me, owning this toast is more than just a piece of memorabilia. It’s a reminder of the humour, the quirks, and the lasting connection that The Beatles continue to inspire among fans worldwide.
