It was December 8, 1980, and Elliot was at his home in Laurel Canyon, Los Angeles, when his mother called from their native New York.

The conversation ended with Elliot, who describes Lennon as his “best friend”, jumping on the last flight to the Big Apple from LA.

In the days that followed — and while there was an outpouring of grief around the world — Elliot was asked by Lennon’s widow, Yoko Ono, to inventory all of John’s possessions, including the former Beatle’s blood-splattered glasses which he was wearing when he was shot dead by Mark Chapman.

Elliot recounts the story in his book We All Shine On — John, Yoko & Me (Penguin, £25).

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