Disappearance of Simon Parkes

Simon Parkes (born 1968) was a British leading seaman in the Royal Navy who went missing in Gibraltar in 1986. Parkes was serving aboard HMS Illustrious when he disappeared whilst on shore leave in the dependency. In 2001, Parkes' disappearance gained renewed interest when it was noted that convicted murderer Allan Grimson also worked on Illustrious at the same time.

Simon Parkes
Born1968
Kingswood, Gloucestershire, England
Disappeared12 December 1986 (aged 18)
StatusMissing for 34 years, 1 month and 25 days
NationalityBritish
OccupationLeading seaman, Royal Navy
Parent(s)Dave Parkes (father)
Margaret Parkes (mother)

Disappearance

Parkes was a seaman radio operator in the Royal Navy and was serving aboard HMS Illustrious.[1] In December 1986, Illustrious berthed in Gibraltar allowing the crew to get some shore leave in. This was the last leg of the ship's world tour, Global 86,[2] before she sailed for her home port of Portsmouth.[3] Parkes had gone ashore with his shipmates on the 12 December and was last seen at the Horseshoe Bar after telling friends that he was going to get something to eat. Someone fitting his description was seen at the Hole in the Wall pub, part of the Fleet Pavilion (which was hosting a Naval function). The witnesses also state that the person appeared to be drunk.[1] Parkes' disappearance prompted a search of the areas he was last known to be in. This amounted to a 250-man physical search of the area.[4]

Theories

Deliberate disappearance or AWOL (absent without leave) were originally suspected, with authorities pressing their emphasis on looking for a person, not a body. Parkes had left his passport, all his possessions and Christmas presents behind on the ship with his family later saying that he had written a letter telling them that he would be home for Christmas. Shipmates later confirmed that Parkes was looking forward to going home for Christmas[4] and that he had also arranged for special dockside passes so that his family could greet him when the ship arrived back in the UK.[3]

Subsequent events

In 2001, Petty Officer Allan Grimson was convicted of killing two young men. Both had been in the Royal Navy and been killed on the 12 December of each year (1997 and 1998).[4] As Parkes had disappeared on the 12 December 1986, and Grimson was serving aboard Illustrious at that time, parallels were drawn between Parkes' disappearance and the murders.[5] In 2003, Hampshire Police flew out to Gibraltar and arranged for new searches to take place which involved cadaver dogs[6] and digging in three areas; around the South Barracks, around Rosia Lane (where the Naval function was held in 1986) and Trafalgar Cemetery. The searches were unsuccessful.[7]

In July 2005, the BBC broadcast a programme called Body Hunt; the Search for Simon Parkes. This prompted someone to call in and give certain details which the police described as "vital information". In October of the same year, Parkes' disappearance was given a slot on Crimewatch.[8] Through his solicitor, Grimson appealed to Ofcom about both programmes citing a number of complaints such as not being given enough time to respond to issues in the programme, the lack of other suspects and the fact that he had denied any connection to Parkes' disappearance.[9]

In December 2019, Hampshire Police stated that they had received information that Parkes' body could be buried in Trafalgar Cemetery in Gibraltar. A new search will be conducted, even after unsuccessful attempts to find his body after a search in 2003.[10]

See also

References
  1. "Missing sailor 'link' to killer". BBC News. 3 April 2001. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  2. "HMS Illustrious Communications Reunion-Simon Parks". www.hmsillustriouscomms.co.uk. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  3. Bennetto, Jason (23 June 2003). "Police search Gibraltar for sailor missing since 1986". The Independent. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  4. "The Doe Network: Case File 327DMUK". www.doenetwork.org. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  5. "Gibraltar body is not missing sailor". Portsmouth News. 10 May 2002. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  6. "Gibraltar search for missing sailor". BBC News. 8 June 2003. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  7. "Missing sailor: police return home". BBC News. 17 June 2003. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  8. "Crimewatch's missing seaman plea". BBC News. 5 October 2005. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  9. "Ofcom Broadcast Bulletin issue No. 86" (PDF). ofcom.org.uk. 4 June 2007. p. 14. Retrieved 2 March 2017.
  10. "Cemetery search in 1986 missing sailor case". BBC News. 2 December 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
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