English Chess Forum

Which chairman of London School of Economic's Chess Club was also the President of the London Co-Operative Society from 1962 - 1964?

His spying activities on behalf of Czechoslovak Socialist Republic military intelligence were covered up by the "Milk Snatcher".

Famous for a swim at Miami beach.

Roland Kensdale wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 11:01 pm

Famous for a swim at Miami beach.

Flipper or Jack Lord or Crockett or Tubbs?

John Upham wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:52 am

Roland Kensdale wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 11:01 pm

Famous for a swim at Miami beach.

Flipper or Jack Lord or Crockett or Tubbs?

He seemed to go for a swim and next appeared a very long way away.

Roland Kensdale wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 16, 2023 12:37 pm

John Upham wrote: ↑

Mon Jan 16, 2023 11:52 am

Roland Kensdale wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 11:01 pm

Famous for a swim at Miami beach.

Flipper or Jack Lord or Crockett or Tubbs?

He seemed to go for a swim and next appeared a very long way away.

He did go for a swim but he landed at a different location to where he left his clothes and passport.

John Stonehouse who faked his own death and tried to start a new life with fake passports in Australia.

Recent 3 part dramatization on ITV1: https://www.itv.com/watch/stonehouse/10a1973
ITVX in England, STV p!ayer in Scotland. The player also has a documentary on his life.

Series was mostly a light-hearted comedy, portraying him as a bit of a chump. Final episode was more poignant as he died at just 63.

Stonehouse was shown in a huge prison cell in Australia with a chess set laid out on the table behind.

Roland Kensdale wrote: ↑

Fri Jan 20, 2023 10:47 pm

Recent 3 part dramatization on ITV1: https://www.itv.com/watch/stonehouse/10a1973
ITVX in England, STV p!ayer in Scotland. The player also has a documentary on his life.

I'd recommend the three part dramatization mentioned above.

Along with the series on the Duke and Duchess of Argyll and the Jeremy Thorpe series.

Though his daughter has claimed the series is somewhat cavalier with the actual truth about Stonehouse at times.

Matt Mackenzie wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 21, 2023 4:44 pm

Though his daughter has claimed the series is somewhat cavalier with the actual truth about Stonehouse at times.

I particularly enjoyed Kevin McNally's depiction of Harold Wilson to whom my father posted a portion of blood which headlined on several front pages as "Prime Minister Bleeding Country White". My Dad was active in the Liberal Party under Jo Grimond and Jeremy Thorpe (well, not under exactly).

The series credits display a caveat alluding to some scenes being "imagined" for dramatic purposes so Julia Stonehouse would have noticed that.

John Upham wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 4:02 pm

Which chairman of London School of Economic's Chess Club was also the President of the London Co-Operative Society from 1962 - 1964?

His spying activities on behalf of Czechoslovak Socialist Republic military intelligence were covered up by the "Milk Snatcher".

Actually, he was first outed as a Czech agent by a defector in 1969 or 1970 when none other than Harold Wilson (he of the "That doesn't mean that the pound in your pocket has been devalued" fame) was Prime Minister. Stonehouse was a fellow Labour MP and tipped by some as a future PM.

"Though his daughter has claimed the series is somewhat cavalier with the actual truth about Stonehouse at times."

Which, unfortunately, is usually the case with dramas about real people.

Roger Lancaster wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 21, 2023 8:38 pm

John Upham wrote: ↑

Sun Jan 15, 2023 4:02 pm

Which chairman of London School of Economic's Chess Club was also the President of the London Co-Operative Society from 1962 - 1964?

His spying activities on behalf of Czechoslovak Socialist Republic military intelligence were covered up by the "Milk Snatcher".

Actually, he was first outed as a Czech agent by a defector in 1969 or 1970 when none other than Harold Wilson (he of the "That doesn't mean that the pound in your pocket has been devalued" fame) was Prime Minister. Stonehouse was a fellow Labour MP and tipped by some as a future PM.

It is likely that Wilson, Heath, Callaghan and Thatcher all knew of his spying activities.

Kevin Thurlow wrote: ↑

Sat Jan 21, 2023 11:30 pm

"Though his daughter has claimed the series is somewhat cavalier with the actual truth about Stonehouse at times."

Which, unfortunately, is usually the case with dramas about real people.

Yes, but some more so than others.

One reason why the Thorpe effort got praised was that it was largely true to life with relatively little artistic licence.

A few years ago I picked up a few copies Private Eye covering the Thorpe matter.
here are the covers' https://www.private-eye.co.uk/covers/Jeremy_Thorpe
As you can imagine they sailed pretty close to the wind.

And even closer to the wind...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kyos-M48B8U