‘You kept your trap shut!’ Perthshire farmhand’s memories of being the Queen Mum’s chauffeur

AS far as a job titles go, being the Queen Mum’s chauffeur is a pretty hard one to beat.

For 27 years, Arthur Barty, 81, drove Her Majesty around the country in a fleet of prestigious vehicles owned by the royal family, including top-spec Bentleys, Daimlers and Rolls-Royces.

It was an exciting, glamorous career which saw Arthur drive around 100,000 miles and get involved in all sorts of adventures while in the company of royals and dignitaries.

It was a far cry from Meikleour, the tiny Perthshire hamlet best known for having the world’s highest beech hedge, where he had been brought up.

Born in Alyth on March 31 1939, Arthur was raised at Meikleour Smiddy by an auntie after his mother took ill. In his late teens, he began working for John Matheson at Inchmagrannachan, a farm near Dunkeld.

He joined the Royal Highland Regiment The Black Watch in December 1959 and was posted to various countries across Europe, including Cyprus and Germany. Fifteen years later, in December 1974, he happened to be in Colchester when he was approached by Colonel Thomas McMicking.

“He came out of a room, having given a lecture and said: ‘Ah, Barty. I have a position for you – as the Queen Mother’s second chauffeur. Do you wish to accept this position or not? You have three seconds.’

“I was rather taken aback, but very honoured, so of course, I said yes immediately.”

His very first job was to drive Lord Elphinstone, the Queen Mum’s cousin, to Heathrow Airport.

Soon after, he drove Her Majesty from Clarence House to Royal Lodge, her Windsor home.

“I learned never to drive the same way twice with royalty – for security reasons,” he says.

In some cases he had to drive

hundreds of miles.

Arthur said his job as a chauffeur for the Queen Mother was 24/7.