45 YEARS AGO: JOHN LENNON LEARNS HE’S A BAD DRIVER – THE HARD WAY

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

John Lennon was a brilliant songwriter, but not much of a driver: He didn’t get his license until he was 24, and ended his time behind the wheel with a scary mishap that ended with a trip to the hospital for himself, his son Julian, Yoko Ono, and her daughter Kyoko.

The incident occurred on July 1, 1969, while Lennon and Ono were vacationing in the Scottish Highlands. Although he’d reportedly spent very little time driving since getting his license in early 1965, Lennon felt confident enough to try and navigate the region’s narrow roads in his Austin Maxi hatchback — at least until he lost control of the vehicle and wound up in a ditch. Although no one was seriously hurt, the quartet didn’t escape injury. They were taken to Lawson Memorial Hospital in Golspie, where Julian was treated for shock and Lennon, Ono, and Kyoko all received stitches to repair facial lacerations. Ono, who was pregnant at the time, also sustained back injuries. Lennon’s ex-wife Cynthia, who wasn’t told Julian would be traveling to Scotland, was understandably concerned for Julian’s welfare and annoyed that he’d been sent 50 miles away to stay with John’s aunt after being treated; she traveled to the hospital to try and get an explanation out of John, but was reportedly turned away by Lennon, who refused to see her.