Former Bee Gees chauffeur tells of sadness at death of Robin Gibb

Former Bee Gees chauffeur tells of sadness at death of Robin Gibb

1:30pm Thursday 24th May 2012                                By Rene Gerryts                                                        

The Bee Gees, from left, Maurice, Robin and Barry Gibb                     

                 

THE Dorset man who chauffeured the Bees Gees for 35 years has spoken of his sadness at the death of Robin Gibb.
Brian Sanders, 67, said Robin was a genuinely lovely man and would be sadly missed.
Mr Sanders, from Bridport, who drove the superstar group all through their heyday, said: “I used to drive them on all their tours and gigs and airport runs.
“It was great fun. They were absolutely fabulous blokes, they really were and I am not just saying that because a couple of them have died.

 

“Robin was an absolutely lovely bloke.
“He had the time of day for anybody. He was a very knowledgeable bloke.
“He would never not sign an autograph but he didn’t flaunt himself.”
Mr Sanders became such a close friend he and his family were always on the guest list for the band’s birthday, Christmas and New Year’s Eve parties, even Barry Gibb’s 50th.
He also visited the Barry’s house in Miami a few times with his son Dean.
He added: “My son Dean ended up driving them when I retired about 10 years ago and he was five when I started driving for them.”
Mr Sanders was always a fan of the Bee Gees – and that’s how he got the job.
He used to drive Barry’s wife Linda’s parents and they got talking because they thought he looked a bit like Barry as he had a beard and quite long hair at the time.

 

He confessed to being a big fan even though he had no idea the couple he was driving were connected to the band who made Saturday Night Fever the biggest selling film soundtrack of all time. He added: “I have watched them all through their career and it is very sad that Robin has lost his fight with cancer. He really had the common touch.
“They were superstars but could just mix with anybody.
“They didn’t walk around saying ‘look at us we are superstars’ they kept quite a low profile when they come through airports and things.

“They were fun loving and always up for a laugh although Robin was teetotal.”
He also used to take Robin’s children Spencer and Melissa to school when they lived in Esher.
“He will be sadly missed by me especially,” said Mr Sanders.

The Bee Gees are not Mr Sanders’s only claim to fame – he used to drive George Harrison until he died.
Other stars he chauffered include Eric Clapton.
“I have been driving pop stars since I was 26,” he said.