Relationship: Stepmother

It was when 18 year old Pauline Jones took a holiday job at the Toby Jug Hotel in Esher that she met Alfred Lennon. Despite a 35-year age gap, they fell in love. Alfred called her Polly as, in some ways, she reminded him of his mother.
After the holidays, Pauline returned to Exeter University but, missing Alfred, she visited him during breaks. Alfred asked Pauline to marry him. Given the difference in their ages and Alfred's very low income it's perhaps not surprising that Pauline's mother did not approve.

Pauline tried to persuade Alfred to relocate nearer to Exeter University, but knowing her mother's objections, Alfred moved instead to London. This he thought would give Pauline an opportunity to think things over. Without hesitation Pauline followed Alfred to London.

John Lennon's fame drew the tabloids' attention to Alfred, who had been discovered working as a hotel kitchen porter. A meeting was arranged and, although strained at first, father and son reconciled. Soon afterwards John bought a house for his dad. Pauline began working at John's home, Kenwood, as secretary to John and Cyn and as nanny to Julian. This was only for a few months.

Pauline's mother remained opposed to her daughter's relationship. She made Pauline a ward of court to prevent her from marrying Alfred. In response, the couple took up residency in Edinburgh for three weeks, sufficient to allow marriage under Scottish law. John paid for this trip as well as the court costs that resulted from an action brought by Pauline's mother. John also bought them a house in Brighton, where their two sons, David and Robin, were born.

In time Alfred and John fell out once again. This time it was permanent and they were never again in contact. When Alfred died, Pauline declined John's offer to pay for the funeral.

In 1990 Pauline used Alfred's manuscript to pen 'Daddy Come Home: The True Story of John Lennon and his Father'.

She is now remarried and is known as Pauline Stone.