A THREE METRE pink elephant mural, commissioned by The Beatles, and a piece of napkin art by Jimi Hendrix were up for auction in Stroud this month.

If you were going to meet a three metre psychedelic pink elephant, the chances are it would be in Stroud, a Cotswold market town renowned for its quirkiness.

Miranda Ward was a maths teacher, who taught at Archway School, in Stroud, Gloucestershire, and Sir William Romney School, Tetbury.

Perhaps unknown to her pupils, she was the first female presenter to be heard on Radio One interviewing George Harrison on the network’s launch in September 1967.

The Beatles were friends of hers and she was the only journalist to travel with them on the Magical Mystery Tour TV Special.

She interviewed many musical icons of the 60s during her career including Paul Simon and Jimi Hendrix.

She enjoyed a close friendship with Sandy Denny lead singer of the folk rock band Fairport Convention.

Miranda who lived in Rodborough, Stroud, died in December 2019 and items owned by her were up for sale at Harper Field auction rooms at an auction on January 10 and 11.

The mural was painted on hardboard by the art collective The Fool, led by artist Marijke Koger and Simon Posthuma in 1967 at the Apple Boutique on Baker Street, London. It lined the walls in the Children’s clothing department changing area.

Harper Field Auctioneers and Valuers of Stroud estimated the art work at £4000-£8000.

The napkin with art work by Jimi Hendrix, was known to exist, but was only found among Miranda’s effects after her death.

It shows two heads believed to be Hendrix and Ward with script reading ‘May this be love’ Hendrix is exhaling smoke and the word ‘Problems’ The Miranda figure has a tear on her cheek.

Other 60s art work and Beatles vinyl are in the sale.

Leading Auctioneer Nick Bowkett said: “Miranda Ward was a central figure in music journalism of the 1960s receiving letters from record label executives asking her to write about their artists, this lead to her making friends with many of the leading artists of the 1960s and early 1970s.

"This personal collection reflects the life of an amazing figure and captures the atmosphere of one of the most exciting eras of popular music.”