Beatles' chauffeur dies

The Beatles’ former chauffeur Alf Bicknell has died, the band’s former promoter said today.

Sam Leach said the 75-year-old, who inspired the Fab Four’s hit Baby You Can Drive My Car, died at his home in Oxford yesterday.

The driver who witnessed Beatlemania first hand was found collapsed in the kitchen by his wife.

Mr Leach said: “Alf was a big teddybear of a man who will be much missed.

“He joined the Beatles in 1964 during the filming of Help and Baby You Can Drive My Car was written for him.

“He was with them for four years including when they met Elvis in 1965. Alf often recalled with pride how Elvis called him ‘Sir’ during that meeting.”

Mr Bicknell was born on October 28, 1928 and spent most of his early working life as a first-class chauffeur.

In the Autumn of 1964 he became the Beatles’ official chauffeur during the height of Beatlemania.

An autobiography about Mr Bicknell by Garry Marshall, The Original Baby You Can Drive My Car, recalls how close he was to the band.

An anecdote from Mr Bicknell describes how John Lennon once stole his chauffeurs’ hat and flung it out of the car, saying: “You don’t need that anymore Alf, you are one of us now.”

He was with the band from their late 1964 British tour through to their last concert performance at Candlestick Park, San Francisco on August 29, 1966.