Free Handsome Brute: The True Story of a Ladykiller by Sean O'Connor Page A

Professor John Moxham at King’s College Hospital, Martin Hayes at Worthing Library, Jonathan Oates at Ealing Library, the Lincolnshire County Archives, the Nottinghamshire County Archives, the Sheffield Local History Library, the Sheffield Telegraph , the Harrow Observer and the Bournemouth Echo. Peter Kazmierczak at Bournemouth Library provided guidance and provided photographs from the local history archive. Hazel Ogilvie was particularly helpful at the Local History Library in Harrow, researching the movements of the Marshall family during the war. Matthew Piggott at Surrey History Centre helped to investigate the archives of Rutlish School. I’m grateful to Graham W. Mills, a governor at Rutlish and the current headmaster, Mr A. Williamson, for allowing me access to the school archive. Peter Elliot at the RAF Museum in Hendon very kindly read and advised about the RAF sections.
    In South Africa, I am indebted to Anne Clarkson, who accessed a large volume of new material relating to Heath’s marriage and his tenure with the South African Air Force in the archives held in Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town.
    For access to the remaining evidence from the case at the Crime Museum – including Heath’s suitcase, his ‘escape scarf ’ and whip – I am indebted to Paul Bickley and Camilla O’Hare at New Scotland Yard. Crime historian and researcher, Keith Skinner, has been extremely helpful and encouraging as well as being a mine of information and contacts. He has generously shared his own documents and research about the case from his archive.
    Donald Thomas, who wrote the last major study of Heath twenty-five years ago, shared his insights into the case and his memories of the period. Dr Paul Addison, Juliet Gardiner, Roger Hollinghurst, Alwyn Liddell, Matthew Lloyd, Don Minterne, Tim McInerny, David Pirie, Martin Ridgwell, Geoff Sherratt and René Weis all offered help and advice at various stages in the inception and writing of this book, for which I’m very grateful.
    Despite the horrific nature of Heath’s story, several people have welcomed me with great enthusiasm to the many buildings where significant events took place. Early on in my research, Jay and Lucy Dowle invited me to visit them at the Heaths’ former home at Merton Hall Road, as did Julie Williams, who allowed me to visit the Marshall family home in Pinner. Liliya Guzheva, Jamison Firestone and Robert Field generously allowed me to visit the scene of the crime at the former Pembridge Court Hotel. In Bournemouth, Nick the caretaker at Tollard Court, allowed me to spend time in the former Tollard Royal Hotel where many of the interiors in the public spaces of the building have remained unchanged. I was also welcomed to the Norfolk Royale Hotel (the former Norfolk Hotel) by the current manager, Simon Scarborough. I’d like to thank Matt Evans who accompanied me on a trip to Bournemouth to visit the scene of the crime at Branksome Dene Chine. David McRae, the manager of the Strand Palace Hotel, showed me Room 506, which still remains, as well as providing photographs from the hotel archive.
    Michael Suter kindly shared memories of his father with me. Julia Young, the niece of Doreen Marshall, has been hugely generous with her recollections of Doreen’s parents and her sister, Joan. I am indebted to the remaining members of Neville Heath’s family who, despite their reluctance to explore a difficult area of their family history, agreed to meet me to discuss it.
    Jackie Malton has offered support, insight and practical help from the start of this venture for which I am very grateful. I’m also indebted to Sarah Waters for her help and advice. My agent, Judith Murray, has championed this book since she read my first tentative pages and I am grateful for her encouragement and support throughout. Mike Jones at Simon & Schuster enthusiastically embraced the idea and I have been greatly supported by Jo Whitford and Lindsay Davies who have worked with