Lewis Hamilton’s former Stevenage babysitter recalls looking after the two-time Formula 1 World Champion

A young Lewis Hamilton sits on Bruce Harris' lap (Image: Archant)

But his former babysitter recalls a chubby boy with frizzy Afro hair who would run from anywhere in the house when he heard the Neighbours’ theme tune to dance in front of the TV.

Bruce Harris and his wife Janet looked after Lewis from October 1985 to August 1987 when the family lived in the Shephall area of Stevenage.

His mother, Brenda, used to drop Lewis off at their house in Rockingham Way at 7.30am and his father Tony would pick him up around 6pm.

Bruce, a 67-year-old retired postman, said: “My wife Janet was a registered child minder at the time and his mother came around and said would we look after her son. We said of course and she used to drop him round every day before she went to work.

Lewis Hamilton celebrates winning the world title at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix [Picture: Mercedes-Benz] (Image: Mercedes-Benz)

“I remember when I first saw him he was such a chubby boy with this really frizzy Afro hair. Whenever we went out with him people always used to comment on it.

“He used to absolutely love to the Neighbours’ theme tune. Where ever he was in the house he would just run to the TV and start dancing in front of it. He just loved it.

“He was good as gold to look after and I can never remember him crying. He wasn’t a fussy boy either and he’d eat anything you put in front of him and always seemed happy.

“At the time we had a whippet-cross called Ben and they were always playing together in the garden. It was a lovely time we spent with him and I’m glad at the way he’s turned out and we both wish him all the best for the future.”