Paul's first encounter with vegetarianism was in 1967, when the Beatles became followers of the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi. They were all vegetarian for a while at the Maharishi's ashram in India, and it seems that Paul continued for a while on his return. But he was eating meat again by the time he married Linda in 1968. For a detailed account of Paul and Linda's vegetarianism see Linda McCartney The Beatles and IVU Cycling: Linda McCartney gives vegetarian team ticket to ride (EVU News 98/1) Lady Linda McCartney 1941 – 1998 (EVU News 98/2) Paul McCartney keeps Linda’s legacy alive (TVA)

Sir Paul receives Mankar Trophy on Lady Linda's behalf

Paul receiving the Mankar Memorial Award on behalf of Linda in December 1999
from left: Paul, Tina Fox, Francisco Martin and Maxwell Lee

from IVU News, March 2000:
England, December 6, 1999 - In honor of the significant contribution that Lady Linda McCartney made to the cause of vegetarianism, the International Vegetarian Union awarded her posthumously the Mankar Trophy.

Her husband Sir Paul McCartney happily accepted the original Mankar Trophy along with a replica that he will keep.

In 2002 Sir Paul donated some funds to the Vegetarian Society UK to enable participants from developing countries to attend the IVU World Vegetarian Congress, being organised by VSUK in Edinburgh, Scotland. Some leaders of African vegetarian societies were thus able to attend.

Quotes:

We don't eat anything that has to be killed for us. We've been through a lot and we've reached a stage where we really value life.

If slaughterhouses had glass walls, everyone would be vegetarian. We feel better about ourselves and better about the animals, knowing we're not contributing to their pain.