Exclusive:
The extraordinary collection includes Lucan’s chequebook, a signed letter from F1 legend Graham Hill and porn photos – alongside bank statements, a betting account and even his milk bill
Lord Lucan’s final personal possessions can be revealed for the very first time today after being hidden away in a cardboard box for 50 years.
The extraordinary collection of items even includes his bank statements and even a letter from his great friend racing legend Graham Hill. Fascinatingly there is a book about a top judge in which Lucan had carefully underlined murder scenarios and ripped out pages where murderers had escaped justice.
Police left it in Lucan’s flat in Elizabeth Street in central London and never bothered to look at it. It really is an astonishing snapshot into Lucan’s life. The items were taken by an accountant who police allowed into Lucan’s flat just weeks after he disappeared after murdering nanny Sandra Rivett in 1974. The accountant had been ordered to clear up Lucan’s debts.
In 1994 – on the 20th anniversary of the murder of nanny Sandra Rivett – the accountant was contacted by author Bob Strange. He ended up buying the items for ”the price of a cup of coffee – £1.87” and has kept them in his attic since. Bob said: “The accountant was sorting out Lucan’s debts and was allowed by the police to go into the flat to look at Lucan’s personal effects.
“He was only allowed in for a short time but he was allowed to take all these personal effects. He took them back to his office and they stayed in a box in a cupboard for 20 years until I contacted him 1994 when I was writing a book and I went to visit him. He only mentioned the items at the very end of the conversation and he allowed me to have them.
“There was a box with Lord Lucan’s cheque book on the top But I remember then he said ‘I have a fiduciary duty to maximise the money I collect so I can’t give it all to you but buy me a coffee. I remember counting out £1.87 in change and gave it to him.”
As he looks through the items on his kitchen table now Bob said: “It’s a time capsule – a snapshot of Lucan’s life that’s never been seen before. An extraordinary slice of history. A goldmine.”
He was particularly interested in a legal book on Norman Birkett called “The Life of Lord Birkett of Ulverston” – who was one of the judges in the Nuremberg trials. It contained several pages with phrases underlined, other pages were ripped out. He said: “I always knew there were missing pages from the book but I only bought a second copy of the book on the internet three or four years ago.
“When I went through and compared the books it was amazing that ALL the pages that had been ripped out from Lucan’s own copy referred to cases about how a husband could get away with murder. All were cases where the man got off where he shouldn’t have. Birkett was a brilliant defence lawyer. In another one of his cases he somehow successfully convinced a jury a woman died of natural causes.
“Lucan underlined certain passages in the book and earmarked other pages. When you look back this book clearly should have been taken away and examined by the Police. It’s clear evidence and should have been considered. Anyone trying to prosecute Lord Lucan would have provided very strong circumstantial evidence that he was planning an attack.”
He added: “The police investigation was flawed, everyone knew that. So later on it becomes very sensitive. The Police should have taken this evidence. The lack of curiosity into these book contents was typical of the slapdash police investigation at the time – as the senior investigating officer said to me: ‘we knew whodunnit – there was no investigation to be done.’”
Bob leafed through a sheaf of letters and other paperwork. Some are photocopies but others are originals. There is a personal signed letter from Formula One legend Graham Hill addressed “Dear Lucky”. Hill, who died in a plane crash in 1975, was a very close friend of Lucan. It is dated 10th April 1973 letter and addressed to Clermont Club, Berkeley Square.
It reads: “Dear Lucky. Herewith a copy of a letter I received concerning your vehicle. The letter is self explanatory, and I have no doubt in my mind which one you will choose. I have a picture quite clearly in my mind of you looking rather remarkably like Rommel steaming down the Kings Road, shouting orders, standing up in the seat, gesticulating madly, complete with goggles and hat, just as though you were in North Africa. It obviously points to the armoured type truck.
“Perhaps you would like to contact Ray Thacker direct, and I look forward to seeing you soon in all the gear. With best wishes yours sincerely signed. Graham.”
Bob has never shown the items to anyone in public before. He said: “It’s extraordinary to look at them 50 years on.” He added: “It’s a snapshot of Lucan’s life that’s never been seen before.”