A6 Rebooted

[Observer]

For what it's worth (very little) just been thinking, my fellow Squaddie/friend Ian D, was raised in Bracknell Berkshire. So, on the night of the abduction he will have been sitting only 8 miles from the field in Dorney Reach. He is older than me, I reckon he'll have been about 16 at the time. I was in touch with him until about 2 years ago. Wonder if he remembers anything from that time?

[Observer]

Incidently, in 1972 I was in the Army stationed at Arborfield 12 miles from Dorney Reach, I know the area well. Pity I wasn't aware of the location back then. Travelled down the A4 many a time seem to remember the Old Station Inn.

[Observer]

With regard to the wire fence running away to the left, I think this can suggest either location. If you look at the photo of location 2 there is a hedge on the left indicating a border line which could well have been a wire fence previously.

Yes I agree.

[Observer]

My first reaction to that photo was the same, that it was looking towards the bottom of Marsh Lane and thereby suggested location 2. But the National Speed Limit sign suggests otherwise; would the speed limit change up to 70 just before a right angle bend?

With regard to the wire fence running away to the left, I think this can suggest either location. If you look at the photo of location 2 there is a hedge on the left indicating a border line which could well have been a wire fence previously.

Yes I see what you mean, the Dinage doc photo must be Deadman's Hill then?

[Observer]

Or August?

Oooopps sorry August.

[NickB]

My first reaction to that photo was the same, that it was looking towards the bottom of Marsh Lane and thereby suggested location 2. But the National Speed Limit sign suggests otherwise; would the speed limit change up to 70 just before a right angle bend?

With regard to the wire fence running away to the left, I think this can suggest either location. If you look at the photo of location 2 there is a hedge on the left indicating a border line which could well have been a wire fence previously.

[moste]

Or August?

[Observer]

Hi again

Just had a look at the Fred Dinage documentary, and the photo of Valerie Storie opposite the field entrance. It looks as if it's about turn from my initial thoughts, for that photo shows a location at the bottom of Marsh Lane, location number 2. You can see the turn off to the right, now the entrance to Eton Collage rowing facility. If the pylon photo is authentic, it could be the pylon in line with the farmhouse, the trees in the distance make more sense. Also, the bails of hay in the field would make sense, the abduction taking place in October.

[Observer]

By the way, am I right in saying that at the time of the abduction there wasn't actually a gate to the entrance into the field?

[Observer]

Locating the cornfield entrance

- There are only 2 photos which definitely show the entrance. These were taken by Today when Valerie returned to the scene in 1962.

- There is a 3^rd photo which appears to show Valerie opposite the entrance. Her Telegraph obituary has a cropped version; the full photo can be seen by pausing the Fred Dinenage documentary at 26.26.

- The pilon photo (mentioned above) was in Murder Casebook and of unkown authenticity.

- There is a photo purporting to show the position of the car when it moved further into the field. Graham has pointed out that the car featured indicates this is not a contemporary photo.

- The Great Debate on this subject in 2008 identified two possible locations, numbered (1) and (2) here.

(2) was favoured by normally reliable poster Steve who had been told by local residents that this was the spot. But Spitfire has pointed out that the field was described as going down to the river, which fits (1) better.

If the pilon photo is accurate then the map of it above also tends to suggest (1). But it is a matter of examining all the photos and making a judgement.

Hi

Thanks for the links, first time I've seen those photos. I'd say the map goes a long way to authenticating the pylon photograph, and as you said it looks as if the location to the North of the farmhouse is the more likely to be the location of the abduction site, there is a pylon directly opposite that site. Also, the first photo of Valerie Storie shows a barbed wire fence running up the field to the left, if you look on Google Earth such a fence exists today, it might not be the original fence, but you never know, some of the fences you see in the countryside are extremely old. The photo of the car in the field poses a problem, the car is to the left of the field entrance, that barbed wire fence would prevent the car from driving into that position. Going again to google Earth, if you look to the left of the modern gate, about 15 feet, you'll see by the footpath a very old gatepost, possibly the original gatepost

[NickB]

The Telegraph link doesn't work, but it can be found easily in an internet search.

[NickB]

Locating the cornfield entrance

- There are only 2 photos which definitely show the entrance. These were taken by Today when Valerie returned to the scene in 1962.

- There is a 3^rd photo which appears to show Valerie opposite the entrance. Her Telegraph obituary has a cropped version; the full photo can be seen by pausing the Fred Dinenage documentary at 26.26.

- The pilon photo (mentioned above) was in Murder Casebook and of unkown authenticity.

- There is a photo purporting to show the position of the car when it moved further into the field. Graham has pointed out that the car featured indicates this is not a contemporary photo.

- The Great Debate on this subject in 2008 identified two possible locations, numbered (1) and (2) here.

(2) was favoured by normally reliable poster Steve who had been told by local residents that this was the spot. But Spitfire has pointed out that the field was described as going down to the river, which fits (1) better.

If the pilon photo is accurate then the map of it above also tends to suggest (1). But it is a matter of examining all the photos and making a judgement.

[Observer]

Here is a map from the 1950's which shows the electricity pylons in the field where the abduction took place in 1961. I believe there is a photograph which shows the entrance to the field with one of the pylons in the background. Perhaps this map can pinpoint(using the pylon as a reference)the location of the abduction site on Marsh Lane.

[moste]

I think it was I!

Anyone thinking of reading it should be given fair warning of this cringeworthy moment when the police arrive at 72 Wood Lane and ask the man who answers the door for his name.

"Pratt" the man said ...

"Look you stupid old git - we're making enquiries into a murder. We don't need people like you calling us names and obstructing the course of justice."

Ha, Ha haha . I’d forgotten that bit.

[Graham]

Sorry about that, Nick! I still haven't got around to ordering a copy, and I'm not sure if your short extract above hasn't lessened its potential appeal just a tad. And it's highly unlikely that Acott would have divulged to Mr Pratt the true reason why he was calling. But anyway.....

Graham