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Wales
on Sunday |
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Charlotte
is Lovely
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"Charlotte's
like a grand-daughter to me"
2004
John Harry, Wales on Sunday
CHAUFFEUR to the stars Jeff Tree last night revealed his favourite
passenger - teenage singer Charlotte Church.
Jeff, 61, has driven dozens of film stars, celebrities and top
politicians in 40 years on the road.
But he became so close to Charlotte he thinks of her as his
grand-daughter.
Jeff said: "I would drive her home from concerts when she was
just 12 and by the time we arrived she would be fast asleep.
"I would just scoop her up in my arms and carry her up to bed.
"I started keeping a quilt and pillow in the back of the car so
she could snuggle down.
"And I always had some of her favourite drink - cartons of
Ribena. She loved the stuff.
"She is a lovely girl - bright, intelligent and smart - she was
just like a grandchild to me and I think she thought of me as a
grandad figure."
Father-of-three Jeff started his working life as a taxi driver on
the streets of Cardiff, often picking up drunks in the famous
Caroline Street area.
But he launched his own Chauffeurdrive business ferrying the stars
between airports, hotels, concert halls and TV studios.
He has driven Pavarotti, Rod Stewart, The Aga Khan, Sir Cliff
Richard and girl group Atomic Kitten.
But he has forged close friendships with a galaxy of Welsh stars
including Tom Jones, Manic Street Preachers, The Stereophonics,
Catherine Zeta-Jones and even Welsh Secretary Peter Hain.
Jeff said: "I've always taken the view that you are not just a
driver - you are there to listen and sometimes give a bit of advice.
"I remember Charlotte told me she hated a record by one of
these new boy bands.
"I told her hate was a very strong word and she should reserve
it for when she really meant it.
"A few days later she was interviewed on TV and was asked if
she hated her ex-manager Jonathan Shalit after they had fallen out.
"I remember smiling to myself as Charlotte replied, 'Hate is a
very strong word and should be reserved for when you really mean
it'."
Jeff regularly drives Catherine Zeta-Jones, her hubby Michael
Douglas and children Dylan and Carys when they are visiting South
Wales.
Jeff said: "I drive them in a people carrier and Michael sits
up front with me. He chats away like an old friend.
"But it is a matter of trust, discretion and knowing when to
shut up."
Jeff told how he gave Irish band the Corrs some help as he drove
them to a sell-out concert at the Cardiff International Arena.
He said: "Andrea asked me how they would greet their audience
in Welsh. I'm not a Welsh speaker but I made a few phone calls and
got them the right phrases. They used them on stage."
Jeff even helped Italian opera star Pavarotti to buy a Welsh pony
during his visit to Wales in 1995.
And many of the stars were there for Jeff when his wife Sandra died
of cancer three years ago.
Charlotte sang at the funeral, the Manic's drummer Sean Moore was
among the mourners and Michael Douglas offered his sympathy.
Jeff, of Penarth, has gone into partnership with Cardiff restaurant
boss Toni Venditto to run a corporate hospitality package.
Jeff said: "I was thinking about retiring.
But there's so much happening in Cardiff - it's too soon to hand in
my car keys."
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