PREMIER Tony Blair's personal driver who died in a freak accident when riding her red Ducati 900cc at low speed, had a love of motorcycles, an inquest heard.

"She lived and breathed motorbikes. She even took her grandson Jack to Brands Hatch to see the racing," her daughter, Alison Daly, told an inquest in London.

York-born Sylvia Glenys Beadle, 55, died at Kings College Hospital on December 3 last year after colliding with a Mercedes van driven by Raymond McNeil, of Evandale Road, Dulwich.

Mrs Beadle, who had been with Mr Blair for four years, was on leave having just been given the all clear after treatment for breast cancer.

She was the first woman to drive a Prime Minister's armour plated car and was trained in high-speed driving and evading terrorist attacks.

Ms Beadle, of Lyall Avenue, Dulwich, South London, is the daughter of Jean Maskery, of Woolnough Avenue, Tang Hall, York, and the late Jack Maskery.

The couple were former caretakers at the Evening Press.

Ms Beadle was driving northwards in the opposite direction to the van at 20 mph or less. Alexander Jones, who was driving behind the van, said: "The motorcycle came towards the centre of the road. She braked because there were cars in front of her building up on a blind corner.

"As she braked the bike started to wobble like a child on a child's bike." She fell off the bike on her back and slipped against the front tyre of the van.

PC Derek Hance, from Catford, said the motorbike had probably been trying to overtake but had pulled back into her right lane where there might not have been enough of a gap in the traffic.

The front and back wheels must have locked making the bike impossible to control.

Pathologist Dr Paula Lannas gave the cause of death as multiple injuries.Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Dr Adela Williams, said: "In these circumstances the accident is very difficult to understand."

When the funeral took place in York, Mr Blair moved a cabinet meeting to speak at the memorial service.

Alistair Campbell, Lord Lowry and Sir Robin Butler were among others at the service.

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