Beatles' plate has hidden message

Pete Gent, proprieter of 'The Music Department' musical instrument shop in St Albans, Hertfordshire, came across a very famous car standing in a car showroom forecourt one day. The car was the white VW Beetle featured on arguably the most famous Beatles' album cover, Abbey Road.

Pete promply bought it, realising that the car salesman had no idea of the history of the car or the plate. “The car became famous because of its number plate LMW 281F. A ‘Paul is Dead’ rumour began on an American radio station with the letters LMW taken as standing for Linda McCartney, widow, whilst 28 IF was widely regarded as a ‘clue’ that Paul McCartney would have been 28 ‘IF’ he had lived. The fact that McCartney was 27 when Abbey Road was released was conveniently ignored.

“I sold the number plate at a Sotheby’s auction in 1986 for £2,300. It went to America, but it is now reportedly at the VW factory in Germany.

I was hoping to get more for it at the time, but there were only two people bidding. I should have kept it really, but I didn’t realise that their popularity would grow again.

It would have been great publicity for my guitar shop.