![Goodbye to Beatles' Mr Fixit]( "Goodbye to Beatles' Mr Fixit")
Goodbye to Beatles' Mr Fixit
Beatles widow Yoko Ono has paid a final tribute to the man who helped launch the Fab Four to stardom.
Yoko, who was married to John Lennon, sent a bouquet of lilies in memory of Alistair Taylor, who died last week.
Mr Taylor, who lived at Darley Dale, was the right-hand man of the Fab Four and became known as their Mr Fixit.
His widow, Lesley, said she was delighted with the floral tribute. "It was the most wonderful bouquet I have ever seen, and Yoko had insisted that they should be pure white."
Mr Taylor arranged flights, loaned money, and bought houses and cars for the Beatles.
He helped create the cult of Beatlemania and once turned down the offer of a two-and-a-half per cent share in the Beatles which would have netted him an estimated £150m.
Mr Taylor (68) died in Chesterfield Royal Hospital last Tuesday after collapsing at home.
Two years ago he contributed to an official biography, Hello Goodbye: The Story of Mr Fixit, by George Gunby.
Mr Gunby said: "He was a very nice man and we became great mates. For more than 30 years he lived in Darley Dale, where he loved the countryside, the pace of life, and most of all the people."
Alistair also contributed to a Beatles smash hit. He was sitting with Paul McCartney who said a word and then asked Alistair to say the opposite. A short time later Hello Goodbye was released.
He worked with famous musicians including James Taylor, The Four Tops, Sammy Davis Junior, Cilla Black, Gerry and the Pacemakers, The Cream, Moody Blues and Billy J. Kramer.
"Mary Hopkin lived with Alistair and Lesley when she first moved to London," added Mr Gunby.
After parting with the Beatles he worked for Dick James Music where his first job was to launch Elton John.
A private service of cremation was held at Chesterfield on Tuesday.
18 June 2004
