John Lennon’s iconic round sunglasses sell for £137,000 at auction

Item sold by the band's former chauffeur

A pair of John Lennon's sunglasses have sold for £137,500.

The iconic spectacles were sold to an unnamed bidder at a Sotheby’s auction in London on Friday.

In an accompanying letter former chauffeur Alan Herring, who sold them at the auction, explained how the item came to be in his possession.

According to Herring, the Beatles star left the round-rimmed glasses in the back of Ringo Starr's car in the summer of 1968.

“I had picked John up with Ringo and George in Ringo’s Mercedes and driven the boys into the office,” Herring wrote.

“When John got out of his car I noticed that he’d left these sunglasses on the back seat and one lens and one arm had become disconnected.

“I asked John if he’d like me to get them fixed for him. He told me not to worry they were just for the look! He said he’d send out for some that fit.

“I never did get them mended I just kept them as they were as John had left them.”

In the letter, Herring explained that he initially began working for the Beatles’ in 1967 when George Harrison employed him as a landscape contractor at his home in Surrey.

John Lennon's sunglasses sold at auction for £137,500 (Sotheby's)

He was later promoted to the role of Harrison's chauffeur, handyman and personal assistant until the Beatle left on an extended trip to India.

Starr then approached Alan about working for him instead.

Throughout his time working for the Beatles, Herring was given a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse at some of the band’s most memorable moments.

“Whilst employed for George and Ringo I attended most of the Beatles’ recording sessions at Abbey Road Studios for the "White Album", "Abbey Road" and "Let It Be" — it was a very exciting time to be around,” he wrote.

The sale also included other Beatles' memorabilia, including a necklace with cowbells worn by Harrison, which sold for £10,000.