Investigators have dug up a mysterious cold case in the hopes of finally identifying a young man found dead in central London – 55 years ago. The man was found dead in a playground near Waterloo Station on July 18, 1970, but was never identified.
He is believed to have been no older than around 25, around 5ft 7ins tall with short fair hair and blue eyes and a gap between his two front teeth. The young white male, referred to as Secker Street Man after where his body was found, had a return ticket for a journey he never completed and a small amount of cash. It is believed he may have fallen to his death from a nearby rooftop.
Now, a team of cold case investigators from Locate International are desperately appealing for public information on Secker Street Man.
The charity, who investigate cold cases of missing and unidentified people, has released a new depiction of the man, produced by forensic artist Hew Morrison.
Investigators say Secker Street Man was carrying a return train ticket between Farnborough, Hants., and London Waterloo, purchased in the former.
Police investigations conducted in July 1970 are said to have looked into whether the man was stationed with the military there, but their investigations proved fruitless.
Here’s what Locate International believe to be true:
- He was white, about 5’7” (170cm) tall and of stocky build;
- He had short fair hair and blue eyes
- He was no older than about 25
- He had a gap between his two front teeth
- He was wearing green canvas shoes, a beige crewneck jumper and purple trousers
- He was carrying a small amount of cash and had a return ticket from Farnborough to
- London, issued the day before, on 17 July
- He is believed to have been dead for about six hours, suggesting he fell at some point overnight
Locate International’s new investigation is not ruling out the possibility he was a member of the military, and says they are “particularly eager to hear from you if you were based in or near Farnborough at the time, or know someone who was,” asking: “Does the man look familiar?”
Investigators added that the man’s close-cropped hairstyle was unusual in the early 1970s, but was popular in the gay community at the time.
They urged anyone who was a hairdresser in Farnborough at the time to look at the new depiction of the deceased young man and to get in touch if anyone recognises his ‘unusual’ hairstyle.
Investigators also noted that Pink Floyd played a free concert attended by more than 100,000 people in Hyde Park the day after Secker Street Man travelled into the city, asking if anyone had been ‘intending to meet him there’.
The team say they are also considering the possibility that he may have been in prison near Farnborough, or may have been among people displaced from the capital in ‘slum clearances’.
They added that they’re also keen to hear from anyone who remembers a colleague, roommate, lodger or classmate ‘disappearing inexplicably’ from Farnborough around the summer of 1970.
Mark Greenhalgh, Locate International’s CEO, admitted this was likely the ‘last chance’ to identify the young man.
“Secker Street Man’s true identity has remained a mystery for 55 years now, but we are confident he can still be identified,” he said.
“This might be the last chance to do so, however. Had he lived, he would be possibly close to 80 years old.
“Those who knew him may be around the same age, so we ask you to take a close look and speak to anyone you know who may be able to help. It only takes one person to contact us with one clue for his identity to be found.”
Locate International has 208 active volunteers and last year reviewed 264 cold cases, submitting matches for 10 unidentified people and resolving 30 missing persons cases.
Anyone with any relevant information on Secker Street Man can contact the charity by emailing [email protected], calling 0300 102 1011 or by visiting https://locate.international/secker-street-man.
