Sixties singing star dies at wheel of car

Singer Malcolm Roberts, who first had success in the Sixties with hits including Time Alone Will Tell and May I Have The Next Dream With You, has died at the wheel of his car, his recording manager said today.

Roberts, 58, was found collapsed in his car in the car park of council offices in Addlestone, near Chertsey, Surrey, UK, last night.

Manager David Landau said: “He was on the road in his car and pulled over to the side when he began to feel unwell. He apparently had a massive heart attack.”

Surrey Police said they had been called to the scene by the ambulance service but the death was not being treated as suspicious.

BBC record presenter Lee Stevens, a close friend of Roberts, said: “I am completely devastated. He was one of my best friends over many, many years.

“I went to see him recently in the hospital in Chertsey, when he was having an operation on his hip and he was so full of plans.

“He was a great singer, a true professional and a knock-out guy.”

Roberts was born in Manchester in 1944 and trained with Glyndebourne Opera Company and the National Youth Theatre.

He had various roles on stage and screen before starting his chart career in 1967 and spending 14 weeks in the charts in 1968.

He also enjoyed popularity in Brazil, after representing Britain at the International Song Festival in Rio de Janeiro, and also in America.

In recent years he tried to rekindle his past success and entered the running to represent the UK in the Eurovision Song Contest in 1991.

Unfortunately his song – One Love – came eighth out of eight entries in the Song For Europe vote.

He continued to sing and perform, also appearing in musicals in London, and released his last album, The Essential Malcolm Roberts, in 2000.

He leaves a young son, from his former marriage, and girlfriend Susie.