CHAUFFEUR to Dukes and Duchesses, international statesmen, a Prime Minister and film stars including Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor, Frank Vickers from Woodstock has died aged 87.
Mr Vickers was a garage mechanic at Young’s garage in Oxford Street, and later at the former railway station site.
At the time Young’s provided the main taxi service in town and Mr Vickers was the main driver, giving him unique insight into the lives of the great and good.
He was also a close friend of Cyril Porter and family, who owned and ran the famous Bear Hotel, a magnet for the rich and famous including Burton and Taylor and the husband and wife film stars Kenneth More and Angela Douglas.
Mr Vickers drove the flamboyant Burtons on their visits to Oxford and on one occasion was dispatched to a department store to buy more coat hangers as there weren’t enough to cater for Miss Taylor’s wardrobe.
The late father and mother of the present Duke of Marlborough also used Mr Vickers as a driver, as did former Prime Minister Harold Macmillan on a visit to Ditchley Park, near Enstone.
Mr Vickers also drove international statesmen to Ditchley from Heathrow.
Born in Glympton, near Woodstock, he served with the Royal Artillery as a driver during the Second World War. He was involved in the Normandy landings in June 1944 but was repatriated after a few months because of illness.
He was later posted to Kenya and then North Africa where he was the driver for senior army officers.
An accomplished footballer and cricketer for Wootton, Mr Vickers was a member of Woodstock British Legion and the town’s social club where he and his wife Mary were a formidable duo at dominoes, winning numerous trophies.
Mr Vickers is survived by his wife Mary, three children, Paul, Mark and Yvonne Perrott and four grandchildren.
Following cremation at Oxford Crematorium last Thursday, a memorial service was held at St Mary Magdalene Church, Woodstock.
The British Legion was represented and Gordon Hollis read the traditional exhortation followed by the playing of The Last Post.
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