Living History

Truckin' with The Beatles

I had been working at the giant British Motor Corporation plant in Sydney for some 14 years and I had to face the fact that with some 3000 odd other employees that soon our plant would close on orders from Head Office in England.

However just prior to the closure, the 1964 tour of The Beatles in Australia was planned and at B.M.C. we were instructed to prepare a 5 Ton Austin truck and go to Kingsford Smith Airport, pick up the Beatles on their exit from Customs and drive them to the other side of the Airport where they would change to Limousines and head for their hotel at Kings Cross.

We turned up at the duly appointed time in heavy driving rain however we were prepared with half a dozen large umbrellas .The rain did not deter the huge crowd. Soon out came the Beatles who clambered up on to the truck and off we went to the screams and cries of the big crowd - mostly teenagers yelling 'John' 'Paul' 'Ringo' 'George'..etc.

Not many realized I think that only three genuine Beatles were there as Ringo Starr was ill and would arrive some days later and in order to present a show, drummer Peter Best was filling in for him ....What a day.....

Ray, West Pennant Hills, New South Wales

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