AN
UNRESOLVED MYSTERY
All
the names in this article, other than those holding a public office,
have been abbreviated to initials for privacy reasons, although
those familiar with the case may be aware of these and further details including the
persons referred to.
Background.
On
the 14th August, 1989 a man was found at the
foot of the Grassington Bridge in North Yorkshire. He was unconscious
and suffering from what were yet to be determined injuries. His bike
lay, relatively undamaged, on the road above. The name of the man was R.J.N. We shall call him 'Don'. He was thirty four years of age.
Just
over two weeks later on the 29th
August,
1989 he died in Leeds Infirmary. His death certificate records, “(a)
Terminal bronchopneumonia and (b) Injury to the brain when he was
thrown from the pedal cycle he was riding when it collided with
Grassington Bridge, Grassington on the 14th
August,
1989.”
At an
inquest on the 26th October, 1989, the Coroner
for West Yorkshire (Eastern), Philip S. Gill recorded a verdict of
Accidental Death.
Rationale
for this Article.
It is
impossible to gauge from just the contemporary newspaper reports what
precisely happened on that afternoon in August, 1989, or how and by
whom he was discovered in the grassy field or rocky bed beneath the
bridge.
From
a conversation with a local police sergeant soon after, it was clear
that at least initially, the police themselves found it very
suspicious. This was before a witness overlooking the bridge said she
saw the accident happen and that he had collided with the parapet and
been thrown over it to the ground about 25 feet below. We must assume
therefore it was she who alerted the emergency services but this was
never, as far as I am aware, made public.
Without
her testimony, more complicated explanations might have been
considered which might have included the possibility of the
involvement of another vehicle, an intentional act on the victims
part or even the involvement of a third party. Basically if it had
not been an unavoidable accident, the only remaining question would
have been to coin a phrase - 'Did he jump or was he pushed?' In a
sense that is the niggling dilemma that has remained in my mind ever
since, partly because of what in confidence he told me, and partly
that I have never been able to substantiate or disprove what he
claimed.
Of
course, if either of these options applied to the case, it would
reinvigorate questions that after all this time, are unlikely to be
answered. There is however the matter of the man's credibility and a
lingering doubts implanted by the inquest. From a personal point of view
I need to resolve whether the story he told me, which in good faith I believed, had any basis in truth or not.
If it didn't, it would not
reflect well on him, as it would suggest either intentional deception
or an advanced state of neurosis or psychosis, none of which I would
have ascribed to him. The alternative is that in whole or part his
story was true. Even were it not to have had a direct bearing on the
accident, it would certainly place it in a different light and more
importantly validate his all too short life.
This
article then sets out to fulfill a promise to myself, and to 'Don' -
although I doubt he heard me – that despite my fears, I would do
all I could to resolve the outstanding issues and endeavour to place
them in the context of the personal story that he felt obliged to tell.
This is my way of doing it and hopefully it might even elicit some
of the missing facts from those that know. The reader will have to
make up their own minds, whether the exercise is justified or not.
It
may be worth noting that similar bicycle accidents have occurred in
the vicinity and persons also recovered close to the bridge in
question. (REF. 1.)
Newspaper
Reports.
Newspaper
or other public reports of the incident are very scarce and limited
in detail. However on page 3 of the Yorkshire Evening Post of Friday
18th August, 1989 (four days after the
accident) the following brief account appeared:
“Cyclist
'Critical'. A CYCLIST was today critically ill at Leeds Infirmary
after plunging 25 ft from a river bridge in the Dales. R.J.N, 34, a mature student at Leeds Polytechnic, suffered multiple
injuries at Grassington Bridge across the River Wharfe. Mr N. of
Brudenell Grove, Leeds, was taken to Airedale Hospital, Steeton and
later transferred to the Infirmary.”
The
day after the Inquest on the 27th October, 1989
the same paper, in an article by Louise Ragan reported as follows:
“Cyclist
died after plunge off bridge. A
LEEDS barman nick-named 'The Lemming' because of his accident-prone
nature, died after he fell off a bridge while riding his bike, an
inquest heard.
“R.J.N., 34 of Brudenell Road, Burley, died in Leeds Infirmary
on August 29, 15 days after the accident at Grassington Bridge,
Grassington.
“Coroner
Mr Philip Gill recorded a verdict of accidental death.
“In
a statement, eye-witness Miss K M K said she had been sitting by her
lounge window which overlooked the B6265 road at Grassington Bridge,
over the River Wharfe.
“I
saw a man riding down the hill very fast,” she said.
“Long
Drop
“Miss
K said she saw the cyclist being flung over the bridge wall after
hitting the wall on the bend of the road. He just seemed to be
approaching the bridge too fast,” she added.
“She
knew there was a long drop of 20 to 30 ft from the bridge to the
fields below.
“PC
Gary Towler, of North Yorkshire Police, said the hill approaching the
bridge was very steep but there were warning signs on the road.
“Mr
V P H W, a tutor and friend of Mr N., said in a statement that Mr N., a divorced man, had been studying for a degree course in
environmental health. He had failed his final year as he had suffered
from personal problems but was intending to retake the exams.
“He
added that Mr N. was an experienced cyclist. He said he was known
to his friends as 'the Lemming' because he was accident prone.”
(END
OF ARTICLE)
Some
might think that in the matter of the premature accidental death of a
relatively young man, these cursory reports are hardly adequate. We
cannot gauge to what extent they accurately reflect the police
investigation consequent on the accident or even necessarily a
complete picture of the Inquest itself. The public it would seem is
content to leave all procedures to the professionals without question
and with only the briefest of details two and a half months after the
event.
Needless
to say, there is nothing in these reports to indicate how the
accident could occur to an experienced cyclist, on a wide
unobstructed road, on a dry day in broad daylight? No explanation is
suggested why Mr N. did not negotiate, or attempt to negotiate,
the bend in the road in the normal manner or how a direct collision
with the parapet would be possible, given all the factors.
There
is no precise information here relating to the exact location of Mr N. or his bike or of his precise injuries and how he was treated
on discovery. There is no precise information on timings and how soon
after being witnessed going over, the emergency crews arrived and who
called them. Nor is there here any indication as to the condition of
the bike, either before or after the accident. (In fact I had it on
reliable information at the time, that it was relatively undamaged
and in a sound serviceable condition!)
This
does not mean to say this information was not available to the
Coroner from the police and other reports, only that it never entered
the public domain and no newspaper considered it worth seeking the
relevant information to provide greater clarity. However, there is no
evidence here that the Coroner did raise these rather basic
questions. If he didn't, perhaps he believed no useful purpose would
be served by doing so.
On
the wider point of public policy, it is a fair to say that this is
not unusual. We, in this country, are totally reliant on the
competence and thoroughness of the police and Coroner in such
matters. We generally take a very relaxed approach to deaths and the
causes of it, particularly if there is no immediate family involved
to ask the appropriate questions and seek answers. There have
undoubtedly been many cases where the process has failed the victim
with an insufficiently rigorous investigation or consideration of the
facts of the case.
What
we can say with a degree of certainty, is that if we are to rely on
newspapers either local or national, to hold the system to account,
and to reveal the truth, we shall be seriously disappointed, as the
above discussion demonstrates. The days of true journalistic
investigation, it has been noted, are virtually over. They have
become largely channels for the dissemination of an unquestioning
'official line' in almost everything.
'Multiple
Injuries'
It
will be noticed the only indication of the actual circumstances that
might lead to fatal consequences is reference in the first report to
'multiple injuries'. There is nothing relating to this topic in the
fuller second one at all. We must take the whole cause of death, and
the fact that it resulted from the accident alone, on trust. At least
that is what the articles appear to suggest. As we shall later see,
this might not be quite the complete or even accurate picture.
It
also raises the more general question as to how confident we can be
in the Inquest system to uncover the true cause of death in any
situation and the adequacy of news media to discover and report
circumstances accurately. Two notable cases relating to Princess
Diana and David Kelly illustrate different aspects and weaknesses.
There have been many more.
'Haunted'
by circumstances.
This
incident has haunted me for over a quarter of a century! Not only for
the tragedy of a man losing his life at the comparatively early age
of thirty-four, but also for all the unanswered questions and my
failure to answer them. This is not for want of trying, although how
much more someone else could have achieved is a constant irritant.
Did I let the man down? Was it a simple accident as the official
record suggests? Was Ron indeed just an accident-prone individual who
lost control of his bike and tumbled over the parapet as a result?
Immediately
after the accident I travelled north to see him in hospital and
familiarise myself with the spot where it occurred. Some of the
information I discovered, was to say the least, very surprising, raising further unanswered questions. There is no evidence that what
I discovered was necessarily available to the Coroner, although it
might have been. It certainly was not revealed to the public in the newspaper
articles nor was I ever questioned by the police about the
information that I passed to them and others verbally. Nor was I
asked to give evidence at the Inquest, which I must admit I was quite
relieved about at the time. If I had been I would probably had to retell the story written here. Nevertheless
some of my reservations must have been followed up by the police who determined there was nothing to substantiate them, as the following recent letter
proves.
Letter
from Current Coroner.
In
2010, in a response to a rather belated enquiry, the current Coroner
Mr David Hinchcliff, graciously replied that he had, “obtained
…. the file relating to (the deceased's) Inquest.”After
summarising the specific causes of death referred to above, he moves
on to say the following:
“I
can advise you that at the time this gentleman died, a friend of
deceased expressed some concern about whether the death was an
accident, as Mr …. had in the past referred to him being of a
military background involved in covert operations and there could be
people “who wanted to kill him”. These issues were fully
investigated by the police who were satisfied there were no
suspicious circumstances nor any other person involved in the
incident. His injuries were, and the cause of death was, entirely
consistent with, an accident. The concerned friend was entirely
satisfied with the police enquiry and accepted that Mr …. may well
have had “a walter mitty” character, there being no record of him
ever having been in the Armed Forces.”
'Walter
Mitty Character'?
The
“friend” to whom he refers was probably me. I do not remember
describing 'Don' as a “Walter Mitty character” but have to concede
someone may have, even that it might accurately reflect the truth. It
is certainly one of the few explanations left open when you are aware
of his dramatic narrative, that will become apparent below.
However,
I have to say that using this particular description and that of “the
Lemming” both sit uneasily with what I knew of him, or of others
that knew him. It presumably was published to create a certain image
of the man and infer an explanation for his fatal accident. It also
reminded me of the description that was applied, quite disgracefully
it has to be said, to the weapons inspector, David Kelly, under
somewhat similar suspicious circumstances. He too was described as a
'Walter Mitty character' entirely without justification, and purely
it must be assumed to impugn his character and make more likely the
possibility that he committed suicide. The parallel may be purely
coincidental or alternatively may indicate common themes or possible
causes. (REF. 9)
Early
Memories.
My
connection with 'Don' began about seven years before his death in about
1982. In the autumn term of the previous year (1981) I believe he
became a student on the BSc Environmental Health course at Leeds
Polytechnic. (It is now the Leeds Metropolitan University) I was at
that time a Research Associate and post graduate student employed on
a Health Education Council extended project, whilst undertaking an
MPhil.
I
observed and remembered him in the library for a peculiar reason. He
had with him a young woman who appeared to hover about him to tend to
his every need. She did not appear to be a student herself. I did
not, as far as I can remember, interact with either of them at that
stage other than for cursory acknowledgements, perhaps, but the
incident stuck because it was so unusual. The significance of it will
be revealed later.
I was
attached to the Environmental Health course and undertook various
ancillary roles such as giving the occasional lecture or supervising
student projects. In this capacity I would bump into him periodically
throughout the next two years, when prematurely he withdrew. As I
remember it, during this time he worked at a local pub close to the
University, to supplement his income. He was a lot (about ten years)
older than most of the students on the course which lasted four years
in all.
(I
have tried my best to be accurate on dates although I must admit with
the passage of the years and an absence of contemporaneous notes some
unintended inaccuracies may have slipped in. No doubt I shall be
corrected if I have erred)
Lake
District Field Trip, 1983.
There
is just one moment from that period that sticks in mind at an
Ambleside Hotel where we resorted for a weekend's field trip to the
Lake District in what I think must have been in the spring of 1983.
This must have been towards the end of 'Don's' second year.
He
was quite a tall and strongly built man who appeared to give off a
rather remote and disenchanted aura. He sat in the corner of a bar
and if I remember rightly expressed a certain disdain for the
immature antics of the rest of the class. He also sported a rather
wild beard and was a tad dishevelled. He had the look of a traveller
or climber perhaps. I thought then the man must have hidden depths or
alternatively felt out of place as he appeared a tad uncomfortable
and isolated from the rest. It must have been that year that he
decided to retire from the course and never did undertake the third
year placement.
On
the Move.
My
circumstances changed with passage of time and as a family we moved
to another address in Leeds in 1984, taking over the first floor of
what had been a Hall of Residence. In the summer of 1985 my wife and
family moved back to Cornwall. I expected to follow having come to
the end of my contract but in the interim living alone in the house. A new offer of a Research Fellowship emerged and a new flat, so I decided to stay. It was an emotionally very turbulent time for me. My car was broken into and vandalised. On another occasion I awoke to find the house being burgled by thieves outside my bedroom door. I reached a very low point in that period, one of self doubt and isolation from family. My father passed away whilst I was there. Before Christmas that year I hired a Luton van and moved our furniture and effects myself. I
seem to remember I asked for Don's help. I think he did and appeared to be sweating a lot.
Temporary
Lodger and the Marines.
Prior
to this 'Don' had asked if he could lodge with me temporarily, as he
explained he was going through personal problems, which involved separation from his partner. This I believe was a different
woman to the one in the library but I couldn't be sure about this.
However it was also during this time in late night conversations,
when he arrived back from his bar job, he related his quite
astonishing story.
Sitting
in the arm chairs either side of the old gas fire, with a can of
lager in his hand, he told me that he had attended Leeds Grammar
School where he had joined the Air Cadets (ATC) based there. (I
subsequently contacted the school secretary – I am afraid now I
cannot remember exactly when - who said he had indeed been a pupil
there, although I never obtained a written confirmation of this
detail) Details regarding Leeds ATC is at REF 2. As will be noted, a high proportion of ATC cadets go on to join the services.
This
he said had convinced him to join the Marines when he left at an age
of around seventeen or eighteen I assume. Given his date of birth
(3.5.1955) this we assume would have been about the summer of 1972 or
1973 although if he had left at the minimum leaving age of sixteen it
could have been 1971. The minimum age for entry to the Royal Marines
is currently 16 years.
We
need not be reminded that this was at the height of 'the troubles' in
Northern Ireland. The Royal Marines themselves are said to have had
39 tours of duty there between 1969 and 2001. He claimed to have
served terms there, although I don't believe we ever nailed a precise
date or time-line to this. If what he said was true, we are forced to
conclude his Service career fitted a window no longer than eight
years at the most. From the late 1970's he was reported to be
employed as a meat inspector or butcher in a slaughterhouse, in the
Cromer region I believe, of Norfolk. He was seen there by another
student on the course I was told.
He
related his story with total conviction and seriousness, but it was
the technical detail and the emotion that occasionally came to the
surface at particularly poignant points that convinced me at the time
that he was truthful. Needless to say I found it quite extraordinary.
This
is supported and made more credible by the fact that his admissions
tutor informed me at the time of the accident, that he had told him a
similar story and provided details of a less well known training camp
he had attended in the south of England. Unfortunately I cannot be
sure what it was but it does at least prove a certain amount of corroboration
either to truth or fantasy.
'Service
in Northern Ireland'.
He
claimed he was posted to Northern Ireland where he had witnessed 'his
mates being blown up in front of him' he said and that in one
specific instance he had engaged the IRA in a stake-out in County
Antrim.
I
remember him saying that he 'was sure he had got at least one' as he
escaped across fields. I asked if he had killed him and he
replied he believed he had but the terrorist was over the border and could not
be retrieved, so he was never absolutely sure.
During
'the troubles' over 500 Army and Royal Marine personnel were fatally injured, in
addition to many thousands of IRA and UDA combatants and civilians.
There was nothing in this part of his story that did not gel with
what was common knowledge, or even my own experience when I had gone there. (Ref.
3)
Perhaps
I should mention that all my attempts to trace any record of him
being in the Marines have failed. The Royal Marines did 39 tours in
the province.
Operation Banner lasted from 1969-2007, 763 servicemen and women were
killed as a direct result of terrorism. This includes 651 Army and
Royal Marine personnel.
The Royal Marines who are recorded as loosing their lives in the
operation are respectfully listed at (REF.
4)
below.
However,
this is not the end of 'Don's' story which if anything, becomes even
more remarkable.
'Selection
for Clandestine Operations'
If I
am not mistaken he claimed to be a junior officer. He stated that
after a period of time, and I assumed by this he meant several
'tours', he was 'pulled out', chosen to do under-cover operations.
This involved a selection programme that he recalled in some detail.
He referred to a particular exercise on Dartmoor, in which he was
required to tramp from one location to another over several days,
without being caught by the 'enemy', which he said was acted by
members of the Parachute Regiment. He said there was no love lost
between the Marines and them, which made their role easier and more
convincing. In fact he thought they relished the opportunity to be
particularly mean.
He
said that the mistake he made was to choose to 'hole-up' in a disused
barn en route, already ear-marked by the opposition. Here he/they
were apprehended. His description of what followed was particularly
memorable as it was the first time I had encountered it. He said they
were all hooded and hand-tied and bundled into a vehicle and taken to
another location, where for what seemed like days, he was subjected
to loud noise and other abuse, followed by intense interrogation that
brought him close to 'throwing in the towel'. He didn't and was
considered to have passed the test.
Those
of us around today, having witnessed numerous television
documentaries on the selection techniques adopted by the SAS and
other specialist units, will recognise this is a very accurate
description of what goes on. However I would remind you this was in
1985, when as far as I am aware the existence of these methods were
much more novel and less generally well known.
Of
course it is possible that he had read about them somewhere and just
adopted them as his own account. If he had, he related the story with
a low-key conviction that was wholly convincing - to me at least.
If it
was a pack of lies, I still ask myself why he would spin such a yarn
to a friend, particularly one providing him with accommodation, even
if temporary, and who might easily be able to check out its veracity?
Grey
Man?
I
have just read a review by David Chater in the Times (16.11.2015) of
the previous night's episode of 'SAS: Who Dares Wins' on Channel
Four. He says: “In the final episode, the recruits have to endure
24 hours of merciless interrogation during which time they are
subjected to intense physical and psychological pressure. They are
blindfolded, deprived of sleep, kept in stress positions, shouted at,
bombarded with repetitive music and forced to watch Master Chef.”
This
(with the one exception of Master Chef!) precisely replicates
what he related to me over those nights before the methods had become
widely known by the public I would suggest. Chater continues:
“Testosterone alone won't cut it. 'We're looking for the grey man,'
says one of the selectors. 'The grey man doesn't stick out. The grey
man blends in.'”
That
description of the 'Grey Man' perfectly describes 'Don' I would have
said. To which we must add the the well known preference for
unattached males for special operations. Don had said both his
parents had died before he reached his twenties and as far as I can
detect he had no immediate family. Of course this does not prove his
story true but it does make it less likely to be a lie.
Fatal
Shooting.
The
next phase of his story is even more dramatic. He said that he was
drafted back into Northern Ireland under the cover of filling the
role of an assistant manager in a supermarket to infiltrate local
extremist groups. I think he referred to the IRA but it is equally
possible they may have been elements of the UDA. Shooting incidents
involving supermarkets appear to have been not unusual. (Information
on under-cover operations in Northern Ireland and some of the
casualties is summarised at Ref. 5)
He
said after he had been in this role for some time he got the feeling
that people were getting suspicious of him and that his cover might
have been compromised. Then he detailed how on a significant occasion
he was paid a visit by a man with known terrorist connections. I
believe he said it was an evening visit to his office which he said
was above the shop and he was sitting behind his desk.
After
a brief introductory conversation he said the man pulled a revolver
on him. He then described how his training came into play and he
responded almost instinctively, diving down to the floor to his left,
whilst at the same time accessing the pistol he carried as standard
equipment attached to his right ankle. From the floor in a prone
position he said he fired several shots into the man, who fell dying.
The detail relating to the location of his firearm is wholly
consistent with standard practice for such personnel it should be
noted.
He
claimed that he hastily phoned his emergency contact who arranged all
the details, removing the body of the man, clearing up the scene, and
keeping the matter secret. He did not explain how and by whom this
was done but we must assume it was by either the army or other
security agency. He added that after a debrief he was lifted out of
the Province by helicopter and brought back to the UK where he
retired from all military service but remained protected by it. If
true we must assume sometime later he took up his post in far-off
Norfolk. In other words if true, we may assume the incident occurred
in the latter half of the 1970's when the 'troubles' were at their
height.
He
claimed that he always carried an emergency number that he could call
if he ever felt in danger, with the promise of immediate protection
and removal. Was any of this true or was he living a complete
fantasy? If the latter, he certainly lived it out to minute degree.
Justified
Precautions or Paranoia?
On
one occasion when he was staying with me, I returned to find some of
the curtains to the large bay window drawn. As it was still light and
I seldom pulled them, I thought this was a little strange. He
admitted doing so because he claimed he was wary of sniper fire. Sure
enough when I checked, it was only by virtue of angle and direction,
where there was a possible line of sight into our first floor living
room.
On
another occasion he confirmed that he had 'clocked' all the vehicles
and their registration numbers in the access road, and always took
note of any changes when returning to the flat. Also although very undemonstrative, apparently he had physically thrown out a trouble-maker
from his pub, which rather confirmed, when needed, he could handle
himself.
He made it clear that he felt if the PIRA ever located him, he would be in very real danger that might require a change of address and circumstances. He claimed this was a tacit agreement he had with Government agencies.
On
one level we might possibly conclude these might all be tell tale
signs of paranoia, even a psychotic state of mind, but I have to say
in all other respects he appeared to act in a very rational,
reasonable manner with no attendant signs of mental instability. We
all need our fantasies but if this was all a lie, 'Don' was living his!
Personal
Trauma.
On a
more personal level he told me that both his parents had died before
he was in his twenties. If I remember rightly, it was the one time I
saw a tear appear in his eye. However there was another sensitive
topic he shared with me, that certainly tied in with that very first
observation of him in the library.
He
confirmed that the girl I saw there was indeed his girl-friend, with
whom he had been besotted. This was certainly corroborated by my own
observations. However he added a story that was new to me. Apparently
she had disappeared out of his life rather mysteriously and without
warning. He said he had had no word from her and didn't know where
she had gone but worse was to come. After some months she had
appeared in his life again to tell him that she had been pregnant by
him but had had a termination without telling or discussing it with
him.
Needless
to say he was devastated by this. As far as I am aware this was not
the woman to whom by the press account he had been married and
divorced. However as we shall see, a mysterious, unidentified,
unrevealed, woman does crop up again immediately before his fatal
accident.
Intentional
Self Harm.
One
other personal matter was revealed, with direct implications for the
final chapter of his life, in these conversations, namely that so
devastated was he by the revelations from his ex-girlfriend, that
earlier he decided to end his own life! Perhaps of even greater erie significance was his description of how he attempted to do it, as in
some respects it replicated his final days.
He
said he had travelled into the Dales with his tent, where with
spirits and pills he had attempted suicide. Instead he woke up after
a night and regained consciousness, and had decided to carry on
living. With the passage of time, I cannot now be sure whether or not
he said he had gone there with his ex-girlfriend but he might have
done. Whether he did or didn't, I certainly confirmed later on that
he had met a girl at a camp-site just outside Grassington,
immediately before his death, of which more later.
Of
course the question arises, given the circumstances, whether the
accident of the 14th August, 1989 was in some
way a repeat performance of that earlier attempt on his life? He was
certainly camping in a tent at the time. Spirit bottles were found in
his tent I was told and he had met a mysterious woman immediately
before when he was staying there, who as far as I am aware never came
forward or was identified by the police or Coroner.
Military
Contacts Maintained?
I
have referred to his claim that he maintained confidence and
contacts that should he need them, could be implemented. One other
detail if true, tends to support this assertion. Whilst staying with
me he confided that he had applied for a post with the army or
Ministry of Defence in some health and safety role and been
short-listed for interview. I remember congratulating him and wishing
him well. I believe I even agreed to act as a referee. At this stage
he had only done two years of the degree course so I was rather
surprised he had got an interview.
To this day I am not sure whether
he did but the story seemed to be supported by the fact that when I
saw him behind the bar soon after, his appearance had been
transformed. He had had a haircut and his unruly beard had been
trimmed short he said, in preparation for the interview. When I next
saw him and enquired how it had gone, he said he had changed his mind
and not attended it. Just another fantasy or an example of other
mental reservations?
Pneumonia.
Now
moving forward with the narrative, my time at Hammond Hall was
limited. The Polytechnic authorities had no intention of keeping it
open with all its attendant costs, just for me, so I had to move out
prior to Christmas 1985. One night as I lay in my bed, all I could
hear coming from the other room was Ron coughing. When I went to see
him in the morning he was in a very poor state with a high
temperature. I was in a fix because I knew I had to depart soon and
there was no way I could leave him there. Nor was he in any fit state
to be moved so I contacted the local surgery and the doctor, who's
name I now forget, and he visited.
After
checking him out I was surprised to be told he was suffering from
pneumonia and would be admitted to hospital by ambulance. Strangely I
can't now recall seeing him taken away but still remember my surprise
how quickly the diagnosis was made and the swiftness with which he
was taken to hospital. I had to return to Cornwall so wasn't able to
visit him in hospital. Later in the next year when I had moved into
new accommodation – a flat close to the University – on occasions
I would see him back at work behind the bar at The Packhorse
opposite the University. He told me little of his treatment other
than confirming he was fully recovered.
This
of course was four years before ' Terminal bronchopneumonia'
was specified as the principal cause of his death. I am in no
position to know whether a post mortem was carried out following his
death as it is not referred to either in the Coroner's letter or the
newspaper reports, but it would be quite possible unless the causes
of death were provided by hospital doctors without it. I just don't
know and haven't been informed.
Strange
Telephone Calls
Fast
forward to 1989. I had now moved to a new position as senior lecturer
at a north London college, commuting weekly from my Cornwall home. At
around 9 pm on the night of the 13th August,
1989 a very strange thing happened, strange because it has never
happened before or since. This please note was the day before Ron had
his accident.
The
phone rang and I answered it in the normal way but instead of hearing
a voice I heard a sound that is hard to describe resembling a
strangled grunt. I asked several times who it was to no effect, so
after a few moments put the phone down thinking it was a nuisance
call. A few minutes later it rang again. This time my wife answered
the phone but was equally unsuccessful. The third time I answered,
this time asking who it was and what they wanted. I had a strong
impression there was someone there but still declining to speak. On
the fourth call I sensed something desperate and I spoke differently
asking if they were in trouble or if I could help in any way. This
time I heard what sounded like breathing – something approaching a
sigh maybe – and then the phone went dead.
Such
was the strangeness of the incident, we discussed it all evening and
even when we got to bed. I think this must have predated the days
when you could trace the caller's number. There is no indication this was associated with 'Don' but but the juxtaposition of two such unusual incidents could not be ignored, and I thought at the time it might have been an attempt to plea for help.
Bad
News.
Two
days later (15.8.1989) I had another call. This time it was from my
ex-colleague, V. W. with the news that Don had been found at the
bottom of a bridge and was in a serious condition in hospital. Given
what Don had told me a chill ran down my spine. It grew worse when
the circumstances as as far as he knew them were explained. The
accident it appeared did not have a rational explanation. Rather
obviously I outlined my reservations and concern in the light of all
the details Don had told me. As far as I can remember, up to this
point in view of their sensitivity, I had told no one. I probably
also indicated my intention to drive up to see him. In my own mind I
also resolved to make some inquiries of my own whilst there.
The
next day (16.8.1989) I rang the local police and spoke to a Sergeant
who had been involved in the investigation. He was fairly
forth-coming and said that they had been very concerned about the
circumstances of the accident and couldn't really explain how it
could have happened. I think he mentioned that 'Don' was camping in the
area and various items had been retrieved including bottles of
spirits from the tent but he didn't say where this was. I believe I
passed on my reservations and details of 'Don's' fears. If my memory
serves me correctly, the conversation was reasonably extended and
lasted perhaps for fifteen or twenty minutes and more than one
officer was spoken to. As far as I can remember, no mention was made
of a witness to the accident.
When
I put the phone down I was struck by a strange peculiarity, so
strange I immediately asked my wife who was in the next room if she
had noticed too? She hadn't, so I pointed out that at no stage in the
conversations had I been asked for, or given, my name and address!
Can you imagine a total stranger being given privileged information
about a serious suspicious accident by a policeman, without him
wanting to know who he was speaking to? Quite extraordinary! Either
this was a very lax policeman or he was satisfied he already knew who
I was!
Expedition
North.
It
being the summer holidays, we resolved to travel north and combine it
with a sort of camping trip, calling in on relatives and friends on
the way. We stayed in a caravan owned by the a colleague's family for
a night when the conversation centred around Don and his accident.
Don's tutor had arranged for him to return to the course to take up
from where he had left off. He was generally of the opinion that
'cock-up' was far more likely than 'conspiracy' for his accident and
the way it had been investigated.
Despite
being responsible for admissions at the time, for some strange reason
I don't believe I ever enquired what Ron had done prior to joining
the course initially in 1981 and he didn't volunteer the information
either and has never done so since. I can only put this down to my
naivete or nervousness at the time, as it could have resolved to a
large extent Don's claims. Subsequently on completion of Police
inquiries, he was to be given Don's bicycle which he informed me was
virtually undamaged!
From
there we drove to Grassington on I think Friday 25th
August, 1989 and searched for a suitable place to camp, not
having booked in advance. Rather incredibly the first site that we
tried was the very one where Ron had stayed! Having carefully
retraced my steps now with the aid of Google Earth I can be
fairly confident this was 'Skirethorns'. (Ref. 6) His tent was
pitched in the fairly confined space to the rear of the farmhouse
and outbuildings. As it was full we moved on and found tent space at
'Wood Nook Caravan Park'. The fact that I had located his camping
site almost miraculously and was able to speak to the owner who
remembered him well, was almost too good to be true! I managed to have a long
conversation with the owner and gained some fascinating information
about his movements immediately before the accident. Indeed it was truly amazing.
An
Assignation.
He
said that Ron had arrived on Friday 11th August, 1989 and
set up his tent. At some time before the accident on the following
Monday, he had been seen working on his bike, mending a puncture or
something similar. After the accident the police had called and taken
the tent and all its contents including empty spirits bottles. We must assume he cycled all the way from Leeds unless someone had given him a lift.
But
much more significant was the information that he not only met a
woman whilst he was there, but the relationship appeared quite close.
This assessment was reached by the site owner on the back of seeing
them both walking he thought to the nearest pub “ hand in hand”
on the evening of Saturday 12th August. He said he
remembered because he was pleased that they had company for one
another and seemed to be getting on so well. I did not ask whether
this information had been given to the police but I assumed it must
have been.
This
information appeared to be significant, so I inquired some more about
the 'mystery' woman. Apparently she had arrived a day before Don on
Thursday 10th August and they appeared to be immediately closely
connected. From what I knew of Don, he didn't appear to be the type
to strike up immediate or easy relationships with complete strangers.
Was it someone he already knew and was the meeting pre-arranged? If
nothing else, this appears a distinct possibility. Was it the old
'flame' with whom he had been so closely attached? Given what 'Don' had
told me of his 'under-cover' work, the possibility of a clandestine
contact also passed through my mind as a possibility.
He
said that the woman was about the same age and “had a strange
accent” that he couldn't quite identify. I believe at the time he
showed me the visitor's book. Needless to say this information was
never revealed by the police or Coroner, although it may have been in the possession of them both. I simply do not know. Nor do I know whether any attempt was made to
trace her. I was told that a day after they were seen walking off
together arm in arm, she packed up her tent and moved off.
In
other words to clarify, it would appear that the 'mystery woman'
arrived on Thursday, Don arrived on Friday, they were seen going out
together 'arm in arm' Saturday, she departed Sunday, he had his
serious accident Monday!
The
parallels and possible connections with the earlier event he had
described in our mid-night chats four years previously, relating to
romantic attachments and complications and associated suicide
intentions in a tent in the Dales cannot be over-looked. Or indeed if
his story about being on an IRA hit list for his under-cover
activities in Northern Ireland, might the meeting with the woman,
have a more sinister aspect? Even after all these the years the
questions hang in the air and ask to be answered.
A
Nervous Investigator.
I
have to say at the time I felt quite nervous, particularly as my
children were with me and we were quite exposed. Maybe this was quite
unjustified, the product of an overactive imagination. I did enquire
of a number of people in Grassington itself and particularly some
occupants of the terrace overlooking the bridge. However although
some had seen emergency vehicles there and heard of it, none I met
had witnessed the accident itself.
The
hill approaching the bridge was indeed quite steep, with a left hand
bend at the bottom (see image (Ref. 7)) As a cyclist myself I could not see in
what circumstances this could result in a collision with the parapet,
unless this was intended. Questions do arise in relation to the only
witness statement. Did the lady in question make the emergency call
to alert the police and if not why not, if as she says she saw him
catapulted over the parapet after speeding down the hill? Who did make the first contact?
Could
she have been mistaken and seen a different cyclist going down the
hill and connected the two incidents in her mind and assumed they
related to the same person subsequently? After all what cyclist does
not go down that hill at speed? How, when and by whom the accident
was reported to police and ambulance is critically important in such
incident. The apparent absence of information on this point is highly
frustrating to anyone wishing to know what really happened that day.
The
condition of the bike, as we have already noted, was reported to be
hardly damaged. How can this be reconciled with the account of a
head-on collision with a stone wall at perhaps a speed of thirty or
forty miles per hour? Of course the exact location where he lay would
have a bearing on this as we might expect him to be further away than
if he just dropped off vertically. When I was there there were no
indicators as to where he might have been found.
Then
there was the evidence of the site owner where he camped. Were blood
alcohol or any other substances taken? They certainly don't appear to
have been referred to at the Inquest although they may have been in
the evidence presented to the Coroner. Was his blood alcohol level checked as part of the standard casualty procedure?
Hospital
Visit and Strange Injuries.
On
the way back to Cornwall, I visited 'Don' in hospital on Sunday 27th
August. He was unconscious but otherwise looked remarkably well. He
was clean shaven with short hair. It was unclear whether this had
been happened since he was admitted or it reflected his earlier state. In
any event it was not the long-bearded look I had been used to. Nor
was there any evidence of the stubble that might have been expected
if he had not been shaved since the accident two weeks previously. I
have to say I thought at the time he might well have the appearance
of an army officer now, rather than the 'beatnik look' with which I
had been familiar. If anything it reinforced my belief that 'Don's' story about a military career, might have been more plausible.
I was
in no position to know whether his unconscious state was the result
of medical intervention or brain injury. He was not on a general
medical ward, more a side room to himself but did not appear despite
his condition to be receiving any intensive care or been subject to
any invasive surgery that could be seen. He was breathing unaided and
connected to a drip as far as I can remember. He was in a
semi-reclining position and showed no sign of discomfort or distress.
I
spoke to one of the nurses present who showed the usual reticence to
discuss his situation although she did confirm the fact that he was
relatively undamaged physically with no broken bones, scratches or
even bruises. Certainly none were evident on his head and face, upper
body or arms when I saw him. The doctors she confirmed had been very
surprised by this fact in view of a twenty five or thirty feet fall
onto exposed limestone river bed or maybe just a grassed field,
depending on where he landed.
I
must admit this has puzzled me also. The evidence of my eyes and the
nurse's account certainly did not support the newspaper's view that
he was suffering from 'multiple injuries'. In fact it appeared to be
suffering from very few!
I sat
by his bed and held his hand and talked to him hoping that on some
subconscious level he could hear me and know that someone cared. It
was very noticeable that there was an absence of family or friends
during my visit or even the usual signs of interest with cards etc.
It rather confirmed his story that both his parents had died when he
was still in his teens and he had limited family. It is not at all clear whether in fact he had
close relatives.
Little did I think at that point that two days later, I
would be informed that he had succumbed to his injuries and medical
condition. Indeed I might have been one of the last (discounting
professionals) friends to see him alive. As far as I am aware the
medical aspects of his death were never questioned. In particular we might wonder why
in a hospital setting he should die primarily from pneumonia of the
lungs and bronchus.
(REF. 8)
Concluding
Observations.
I was
unable to attend the funeral so I cannot report on it. I wasn't
invited to give evidence to the Inquest, although it appears my
concerns to some extent were reported, investigated by police and
found to be baseless. So what you may ask is the point of recalling
my story?
I
have to say I am not really sure. Maybe I feel guilty that I was not
more thorough in following up leads or trying to corroborate elements
of his story. Maybe it will jog the memories of others that might
have known him, so that a more complete an accurate picture may
emerge of his life and particularly that period that spans the 1970's
as to whether he was indeed in the services or saw action under cover
or otherwise in Northern Ireland.
And
who was the woman he undoubtedly met in that Grassington camp site
immediately before his accident and why wasn't she referred to or
located by police? Did it have a bearing on what happened later?
How
can the description of the accident be reconciled either with the
condition of the bike or his injuries. Why after such trauma would
pneumonia be the chief cause of death, had the previous illness been
a factor or why if injury to the brain was a factor were there no
obvious signs of injury or surgical intervention?
Even
if the act of a third party can be ruled out, an intentional act by 'Don' himself can not be. If the latter, did his meeting with the woman
precipitate it as it had done apparently seven years previously? More sinister explanations can only be ruled out if the one witness' testimony is completely accurate and reliable. I was never able to trace or speak to this lady I regret to say. Perhaps I didn't try hard enough.
None
of these questions have been answered – at least to me - perhaps
because they were never adequately posed? I was utterly convinced by
his night time stories. Even if they were 'tall' ones, making him
indeed a 'Walter Mitty character', this still does not explain the
many other intriguing idiosyncrasies.
Some
might think we should leave poor 'Don' to rest in
peace. There may be others like me, that cannot rest until an answer
to the outstanding questions are known. For if, and I am not saying
it did, the system failed him, either before or after his death, it can fail anybody. In an
increasingly dangerous and uncertain world, that is an issue that
affects us all. And if what he said was indeed a true reflection of
his activities for the British armed services, it would be an
unjustified disservice to label him as a fantasist or as a Walter Mitty Character.
Footnotes.
-
-
3.
A comprehensive list of IRA/PIRA engagements with British forces is
here:
Marine
L Allen, Marine Anthony David, Marine John Shaw, Marine Andrew
Gibbons,Marine Graham Cox, Marine John Macklin, Cpl Robert Miller,
Marine Gary Wheddon, Marine Adam Gilbert,Cpl Dennis Leach, Marine
Michael Southern, Marine Neil Bewley, Sgt William Corbett.
No
details are given as to the circumstances so it is impossible to
cross reference any details.
Royal
Marine Fatalities Northern Ireland for the period 1.1.1970 –
31.12.79.
Wednesday,
26
July
1972
Royal
Marines, 40 Commando, Unity Place, West Belfast, Northern Ireland, on
foot patrol, shoot by IRA ALLEN, Lennerd (sic) D, Marine, killed
Tuesday
17 October
1972
Royal
Marines, 40 Commando, West Belfast, Northern Ireland, on patrol four
weeks earlier, shot by IRA DAVID, Anthony P, Marine, DOW
Sunday
29 April
1973
Royal
Marines, 42 Commando, New Lodge Road, North Belfast, Northern
Ireland, on mobile patrol, shot by IRA sniper COX, Graham D, Marine,
killed
Friday,
18 May
1973
Royal
Marines, Knock Na Moe Castle Hotel, Omagh, Northern Ireland, IRA car
bomb destroyed hotel REED, Derek B, Sergeant, RM (attached), killed
as he was leaving hotel. (Not included in the above list.)
Thursday
28 March
1974
Royal
Marines, 42 Commando, Antrim Road, West Belfast, Northern Ireland, on
mobile patrol, shot by IRA seven days earlier MACKLIN, James, Marine,
DOW (He is listed as JOHN Macklin above)
Tuesday,
13
August
1974
Royal
Marines, 45 Commando, Crossmaglen, County Armagh, Northern Ireland,
in observation post, booby trap or remote-controlled bomb attack by
IRA
LEACH,
Dennis, Corporal, P028362E, SOUTHERN, Michael J, Marine, P029081M,
Sunday,
21 August 1977 Royal
Marines, 45 Commando, possibly X Coy, Turf Lodge, West Belfast,
Northern Ireland, on foot patrol/cordon and search, shot by IRA
sniper BEWLEY, Neil, Marine RM, killed; Marine Bewley's parents
subsequently presented a cup, known as the Bewley Trophy, to 45
Commando(with
thanks to Ralph Howard-Williams, Operations Officer at the time)
Thursday
17 August 1978 Royal
Marine, 42 Commando, Forkhill, County Armagh, Northern Ireland, on
foot patrol, remote controlled car bomb detonated by IRA MILLER,
Robert K, Corporal, RM, killed
Sunday,
12 November
1978
Royal
Marines, 42 Commando, Crossmaglen, County Armagh, Northern Ireland,
on foot patrol, remote controlled-bomb detonated four days earlier by
IRA WHEDDON, Gareth C, Marine, RM, DOW (also listed online as 21
November)
If there was
any truth in Ron's story, the last two events listed here might fit
his description of witnessing a colleague being blown up.
5.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/14_Intelligence_Company
Undercover
soldiers 'killed unarmed civilians in Belfast' 21
November 2013
6.
Skirethorns Skipton,
North Yorkshire BD23 UK Google Ref. 54 04 15.95 N - 2 01 59.00 W
7.
Grassington Bridge (looking south) – the approaching hill on the
left. The witness Mrs Kathleen Mary Kinder, is assumed to have lived
in one of the terraced houses shown.
8.
Criticism of Leeds Infirmary by the Coroner
Coroner
criticises 'unacceptable' treatment of Mike Tindall's grandmother
Murray
Wardrop 7:56PM BST 30 Apr 2009
A
coroner has criticised a hospital's "unacceptable"
treatment of England rugby player Mike Tindall's grandmother in the
hours before she died of a stroke.
Margaret
Shepherd died in Leeds General Infirmary, West Yorks, 10 days after
she was hit by a car reversing into a parking space.
The
88-year-old relative of Tindall, who is the boyfriend of the Queen's
granddaughter Zara Phillips, suffered minor fractures in the
incident in Kirkgate, Otley.
However,
on the eighth day of her hospital stay in March 2006, she suffered a
blood clot in an artery which led to a stroke.
9. David Kelly "a Walter Mitty character".
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3124677.stm
END.
