At FaireSansDire and TheBurlingtonFiles Trust, we often encounter curious and bizarre inquiries. Two common recurring inquiries have prompted us to publish this article. Those inquiries relate to:
1. The extraordinary number of known life-threatening, death-defying or near-death Incidents experienced by Bill Fairclough; and
2. Just what evidence still exists to support their occurrence.
For reasons of precision, the heading above includes the adjective “Known”: there well may be other Incidents we are unaware of but before delving into these Incidents, let me introduce myself. I am Bill Fairclough’s son and from April 2008 until July 2021 I intermittently acted as the Operations Director (and Company Secretary) of Faire Sans Dire Limited (English Company No. 06552657). I have also worked for FaireSansDire as head of its cyber and other operations. I still manage FaireSansDire’s and TheBurlingtonFiles’ social media presence and deal with other issues relating to FaireSansDire.
Now, everybody will have different definitions of exactly what is a life-threatening, death-defying or a near-death incident but essentially it boils down to common sense. Instances like being hospitalised in an emergency, surviving a shooting or knife attack, being poisoned, confounding an attempted kidnap or abduction, escaping from a sinking boat, enduring a car crash in which your car is written off or surviving natural disasters like shark attacks or lethal hurricanes are usually classified as such “Incidents”.
In the table below I have summarised my father’s life-threatening, death-defying or near-death Incidents that are already in the public domain. If you want to see more information about any of these, try searching for them in his biography published on TheBurlingtonFiles website and follow any links from there. Please note that some of the years specified below may be inaccurate and for legal and other reasons the explanations of less than half a dozen of the Incidents have been masked so that the information disclosed is intentionally inaccurate notwithstanding that broadly speaking such an Incident did occur.
Also of note is that a list of bizarre and perilous Incidents experienced by my father was first compiled in 1975 with the help of my grandparents and my uncle and aunt from the North of England so we are not relying on my father’s childhood memories as evidence of the Incidents listed in the 1950s and 1960s. In addition, from 1975 my father kept this list roughly up to date as events occurred which means that the table below is not based on anyone’s recollections of events that occurred more than a year before they were noted as being matters of interest.
There are more than 50 Incidents listed below which include over 20 events described as attempted murders for want of a better brief description. It was only when I was in my mid to late teens that I realised just how elaborate the security surrounding my father was under “Uncle Barrie” (Barrie Parkes BEM – British Intelligence). On numerous occasions I can recall there were several burly men hanging around my father’s house or nearby when we went out for meals or whatever. I later learned that these bodyguards were mainly ex Special Forces and under Uncle Barrie’s command. My father aptly described them as “friends” of the family.
Twenty or more events described as attempted murders may sound a lot but it probably palls into insignificance when compared with the number of life-threatening experiences bomb disposal officers or landmine clearance experts handle during their careers. Unfortunately, the few statistics we could find about how many devices these brave people rendered harmless were muddied by their use of robotic devices and national security issues so we can’t quote comparative statistics.
Similarly, we could not find any reliable relevant data relating to any country’s special forces such as the US Navy Seals or the UK’s SAS who as individuals probably face many more life-threatening scenarios during their careers than most persons working in regular armed forces around the world. Of course, those involved in warfare don’t always want to disclose how many chess pieces have been taken off the board as Prince Harry did about his 25 kills in Afghanistan. Hence, reliable statistics for war related activities are normally hard to come by. We also researched other high risk jobs such as high-rise window cleaners and test pilots but again no relevant statistics were available save that there are about 3,000 test pilots in the USA but less than 50% of them remain in their jobs longer than two years!
For more than four decades, my father and others invested much time in hiding information and ensuring his activities remained secret to the extent that “problems” on assignments were rarely divulged to local law enforcement authorities even in “friendly” jurisdictions. Hence, citing detailed independent verifiable sources for many of the Incidents referred to below is virtually impossible now. Nevertheless, logic dictates that circumstantial and/or other evidence existed and where that is known to be the case I have referred to it in the table below by reference to this list:
1. Law enforcement or diplomatic records ignoring inaccessible intelligence records
2. Insurance company and other records particularly those relating to cars, boats and aeroplanes
3. Hospital and/or medical records relating to those involved in Incidents
4. Newspaper articles relating to the Incidents or matters pertaining thereto
5. Witnessed or evidenced/recorded contemporaneously by members of his family
6. Witnessed or evidenced/recorded contemporaneously by FaireSansDire personnel
7. Otherwise independently corroborated, evidenced or recorded contemporaneously
Were an in depth investigation of these Incidents undertaken additional circumstantial evidence would no doubt also be available. It could be obtained from interviews of living relatives, friends and known associates, audio recordings, photos and videos, private documents and records, family and work diaries, employment and business records, FaireSansDire reports, credit card and other financial records, passports, hotel bills, telephone bills and any released official records from the National Archives or similarly reliable sources.
If you want to send me your comments about this article or have any queries please email me at charles “@” theburlingtonfiles.org. We are even offering rewards to anyone who digs up any information (for example a press article) that supports or undermines the Incidents described herein so please contact me if you are aware of or discover anything of interest. We are also offering rewards to anyone who can provide us with any comparable data from a reputable source relating to life-threatening events experienced by other persons or professions etc.
In any event, I am particularly interested in hearing from anybody who worked with my father at any time during his life and/or from anyone who knew anything about any of these Incidents.
|
Bill Fairclough’s Known Life-threatening, Death-defying or Near-death Incidents
|
|||||
|
Ref. |
Year |
Location |
Event |
Evidence |
Description |
|
01 |
1956 |
Bank Road Billingham England |
Parachuting Accident |
3, 5 |
JWPF’s brother persuaded him to parachute from the roof of their three-storey home onto a concrete pathway 40 feet below; he landed in a bush by mistake |
|
02 |
1957 |
Middlesbrough (A19) England |
Car Accident |
3, 5 |
During a bit of rough and tumble in the back of their parents’ old Rover 12 car, JWPF’s brother pushed JWPF out of the car while travelling at 50 mph |
|
03 |
1958 |
Norton Green Stockton on Tees England |
Drowning Accident |
3, 5 |
After falling through the ice on Norton Green duck pond into about four feet of icy water JWPF nearly drowned but luckily survived a bout of hypothermia |
|
04 |
1959 |
Norton High Street Stockton on Tees England |
Bus Crash Incident |
1, 2, 3, 5 |
As he was chasing his brother JWPF ran unscathed between two buses which ended up on the opposite sides of the road from where they were travelling |
|
05 |
1963 |
Innsbruck Austria |
Acute Appendicitis
|
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 |
While on a school sponsored tour in the Alps JWPF nearly died but was rushed to a hospital and underwent an emergency operation in the nick of time |
|
06 |
1964 |
Grand Union Canal England |
Boating Accident |
2, 4, 5 |
During a boat cruising holiday on the River Trent the Fairclough family had to abandon ship; their boat sunk within minutes of being pierced by a girder |
|
07 |
1965 |
Clifton York England |
Bomb Accident |
7 |
After school JWPF et al tried to blow up a derelict house using home-made explosives but the fuse failed so a piece of paper, was used instead; it only lasted seconds before the explosion |
|
08 |
1965 |
Ealing London England |
Fire Accident |
2, 4, 5 |
While JWPF was on holiday with both his siblings, they escaped from a flat which was burnt to the ground |
|
09 |
1968 |
Nice France |
Typhus |
1, 3, 5, 7 |
During a trip to France JWPF was taken seriously ill, repatriated by the British Consulate and diagnosed in hospital as being seriously ill with typhus |
|
10 |
1968 |
Croft Spa Darlington England |
Car Accident |
1, 2, 3, 5 |
After driving over a cliff JWPF landed concussed and covered in petrol while locked inside the car wedged into rocks some 50 feet below the road |
|
11 |
1968 |
Sunderland England |
Contract Issued For JWPF’s Murder (Gangland Operations) |
7 |
In order to avoid a gangland style execution JWPF jumped out of a car after the Luvaglio mob torched a night club and issued a contract on his life |
|
12 |
1969 |
Darlington England |
Attempted Kidnap & Murder (Gangland Operations) |
7 |
Two thugs known to JWPF tried to chain him up with a view to dumping his body at sea but JWPF used the chains to tie them to a lamppost |
|
13 |
1971 |
The Beach Seaton Carew England |
Attempted Murder (Gangland Operations) |
1, 3, 7 |
A friend of JWPF’s was shot in the hand; the bullet’s trajectory was such that had it not hit his hand JWPF would have been killed by a shot to the head |
|
14 |
1971 |
Darlington England |
Attempted Kidnap & Murder (Gangland Operations) |
7 |
At a private party, several armed gangsters tried to shoot their way in to snatch JWPF but they were shot at, injured and fled |
|
15 |
1971 |
Aylesbury England |
Car Accident |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 |
Whilst JWPF was driving to Oxford he had a race in his father’s Hillman Hunter with a sports car which resulted in a forty-vehicle pile-up |
|
16 |
1971 |
Middleton St George Darlington England |
Car Accident |
2, 5, 7 |
After the Aylesbury car crash JWPF drove over 200 miles to Darlington only to be told the car was “undriveable” and a suicide trap; it was sold for scrap |
|
17 |
1972 |
Cromwell Road London England |
Attempted Murder (Gangland Operations) |
7 |
After leaving the Cromwellian Club where he had been trying to get the hostesses to go on strike, JWPF was shot at repeatedly |
|
18 |
1973 |
Frith Street London England |
Contract Issued For JWPF’s Murder (Gangland Operations) |
7 |
A well-known London based gangster issued a contract on JWPF’s life after meeting him in Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in Soho only to disappear himself |
|
19 |
1973 |
Denman Street London England |
Nearly Shot Dead By Accident |
7 |
In a night club, JWPF’s friend threw some firecrackers over the bar for a laugh, but the other guests drew handguns and started shooting |
|
20 |
1974 |
Harley Street London England |
Attempted Murder (Operation Standpipe) |
3, 7 |
A gun thrust inside JWPF’s mouth in the basement of a dentistry failed to discharge as described in Beyond Enkription |
|
21 |
1974 |
King Street St James’s London England |
Kidnap & Attempted Murder (Operation Smiling Buddha) |
1, 3, 7 |
Operatives from South Africa’s BOSS attacked JWPF and almost abducted him to South Africa as described in Beyond Enkription |
|
22 |
1974 |
Charlotte Street London England |
Attempted Murder (Operation Standpipe) |
1, 3, 5, 7 |
After being poisoned with botulism whilst dining in the New Delhi restaurant JWPF nearly died in hospital as described in Beyond Enkription |
|
23 |
1974 |
Harley Street London England |
Attempted Murder (Operation Standpipe) |
1, 3, 7 |
Some criminals knocked JWPF unconscious and left him for dead hanging headfirst over a banister as described in Beyond Enkription |
|
24 |
1974 |
Paradise Island Nassau Bahamas |
Kidnap & Attempted Murder (Vesco Investigation) |
7 |
Robert Vesco’s people abducted JWPF on a boat; he was to be drowned at sea but forced the boat back to shore as described in Beyond Enkription |
|
25 |
1974 |
South Side Chicago USA |
Lethal Assault (No Known Operational Links) |
7 |
An armed gang surrounded JWPF and attacked him while trying to steal his limo as described in Beyond Enkription |
|
26 |
1974 |
Copacabana Rio de Janeiro Brazil |
Attempted Murder (No Known Operational Links) |
7 |
This life-threatening event or attempted murder took place on one of JWPF’s assignments involving the CIA as described in Beyond Enkription |
|
27 |
1974 |
Governor’s Beach Nassau Bahamas |
Attempted Murder (Black Coral Investigation) |
3, 7 |
A rogue MI6 agent (JWPF’s girlfriend) tried to stab JWPF again and again with a long knife in his apartment as described in Beyond Enkription |
|
28 |
1974 |
Cité Soleil Port-au-Prince Haïti |
Attempted Murder (Haitian Subversion) |
7 |
Whilst in a bordello hiding from the Tonton Macoute, JWPF was attacked by three men with machetes as described in Beyond Enkription |
|
29 |
1974 |
Cap Haitien Haïti |
Airplane Accident |
2, 7 |
A private jet’s windows were smashed into smithereens by JWPF’s briefcase in a turbulent flight to Haiti as described in Beyond Enkription |
|
30 |
1974 |
François Duvalier Airport Haïti |
Abduction & Attempted Murder (Haitian Subversion) |
7 |
JWPF was attacked, abducted, beaten unconscious and tortured by the Tonton Macoute as described in Beyond Enkription |
|
31 |
1975 |
The Caribbean & Central America |
Cytomegalovirus |
2, 3, 4, 5, 7 |
Per the Lancet, JWPF had the lowest red blood count ever recorded in the UK and he was read the last rites twice because of this illness |
|
32 |
1975 |
Governor’s Beach Nassau Bahamas |
Barracuda Attack |
5, 7 |
A shoal of barracuda surrounded and started nibbling at JWPF who later confessed that he had never sweated in water before in his life |
|
33 |
1977 |
Miami International Airport USA |
Airplane Accident |
4, 7 |
A tropical storm damaged a plane on a flight from Nassau to Chicago; JWPF was on board and it made an emergency landing on foam at MIA |
|
34 |
1977 |
JFK Airport New York USA |
Airplane Incident |
7 |
A friend of JWPF’s noticed the wheels had jammed on a plane they were on as it was landing; he warned the pilot just in time to avert a crash |
|
35 |
1977 |
Undisclosed Location (Far East) |
Car Crash |
1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7 |
A Mafia gang leader and JWPF had a head on car crash; the gang leader was fatally injured |
|
36 |
1978 |
Toronto Canada |
Hurricane |
4, 5, 6, 7 |
As furniture swirled around them and 24 people were killed, JWPF and others were moved several blocks clinging to ropes chained between corner buildings |
|
37 |
1979 |
Miami International Airport USA |
Attempted Murder (Pindling/Lehder Issues) |
6, 7 |
While collecting a car from the underground car park, JWPF and his friend were shot at several times |
|
38 |
1979 |
Lambeth London England |
Lethal Attack (Pindling/Lehder Issues) |
1, 3, 6, 7 |
After leaving a secret meeting in Whitehall JWPF went to a supposedly safe house in Lambeth where upon arrival he was savagely attacked |
|
39 |
1983 |
Oahu Hawaii USA |
Tropical Storm |
5, 6 |
While deep sea fishing JWPF nearly drowned in an unexpected storm with waves over 40 feet high; all those on board were tied together on life rafts |
|
40 |
1983 |
Fiji (West Coast) |
Snake Attack |
5, 6 |
While swimming in shallow water, a four to five-foot sea snake wrapped itself round one of JWPF’s legs and slithered upwards |
|
41 |
1984 |
Undisclosed Location (Europe) |
Attempted Murder (Citicorp & Iran Contra Issues) |
6 |
While trying to escape from three hitmen paid to assassinate JWPF, they followed him onto some scaffolding outside a night club and tried to kill him |
|
42 |
1985 |
Valletta Malta |
Attempted Murder (Citicorp & Iran Contra Issues) |
3, 5, 6, 7 |
JWPF was evacuated to London’s Tropical Diseases Hospital and nearly died from septicaemia after having had 200+ mosquito bites on his back alone |
|
43 |
1985 |
M1 Motorway Southbound England |
Attempted Murder (Citicorp & Iran Contra Issues) |
2, 5, 6 |
In a 100mph plus car chase the other driver jettisoned parts of his car’s loosened under-carriage in JWPF’s path |
|
44 |
1985 |
M1 Motorway Southbound England |
Attempted Murder (Citicorp & Iran Contra Issues) |
2, 5, 6 |
While travelling at over 100mph the nearside tyre of JWPF’s car burst into flames almost resulting in a fatal crash |
|
45 |
1985 |
Crathorne Hotel Yarm England |
Bomb Threat (Citicorp & Iran Contra Issues) |
1, 5, 6 |
After JWPF’s car was checked by the police, JWPF was taken into protective custody pursuant to his father having reported a bomb threat to the City of London police |
|
46 |
1985 |
The Strand London England |
Attempted Murder (Citicorp & Iran Contra Issues) |
6 |
While attending a booze-up in a pub JWPF was poisoned with drinks laced with an overdose of lysergic acid diethylamide and other substances |
|
47 |
1985 |
Undisclosed Location (Europe) |
Attempted Murder (Citicorp & Iran Contra Issues) |
6 |
During a stay at a hotel as the sole guest JWPF was poisoned by rogue intelligence agents |
|
48 |
1987 |
Galeão Airport Rio de Janeiro Brazil |
Attempted Kidnap & Murder (No Known Operational Links) |
5, 6, 7 |
A gang in two cars tried to abduct JWPF after following him in a high speed car chase from a bureau de change |
|
49 |
1989 |
Regents Park Road London England |
Attempted Murder (No Known Operational Links) |
6, 7 |
Someone tried to torch JWPF’s flat using matches and lighter fuel after drugging JWPF who was left to die in his flat |
|
50 |
1991 |
Churchill Place Basingstoke England |
Roofing Accident |
1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7 |
After a suspected arson attack on his office JWPF nearly fell to the ground while walking on girders high up above the gutted floors where the fire began |
|
51 |
1991 |
Hong Kong |
Attempted Murder (No Known Operational Links) |
5, 6, 7 |
JWPF survived an attack by a knife wielding mob outside a night club; a witness who had been tailing JWPF reported him as having been murdered |
|
52 |
1991 |
St Lucia |
Lost At Sea |
5, 6, 7 |
Ater winning a jet ski race JWPF ran out of fuel several miles from the nearest land and was rescued by a passing fishing boat after midnight |
|
53 |
1996 |
Undisclosed Locations (England) |
Attempted Murder (Organised Crime Issues) |
1, 5, 6, 7 |
JWPF survived a drive by shooting at one of his homes and an attempted kidnap later that day in a pub garden |
|
54 |
2003 |
Undisclosed Location (Europe) |
Attempted Murder (Organised Crime Issues) |
6 |
After meeting the leaders of an international organised crime gang JWPF had infiltrated he was poisoned |
|
55 |
2006 |
Undisclosed Location (Europe) |
Attempted Murder (Organised Crime Issues) |
6 |
A sniper aimed a rifle at JWPF using a laser sight which was noticed by a friend of JWPF’s; the sniper ran off once he realised he was being tracked down |
|
56 |
2011 |
Tooting London England |
Lacunar Left Infarct Stroke |
3, 5, 6, 7 |
When visiting an antiques fair JWPF had a debilitating stroke which forced him into a wheelchair for a few months |
|
57 |
2012 |
Undisclosed Location (South America) |
Attempted Murder (Falklands War Issues) |
3, 5, 6 |
Exactly a year after JWPF had a debilitating stroke he was poisoned whilst overseas |
|
58 |
2019 |
Chelsea London England |
Cancer (Details Withheld) |
3, 5, 6, 7 |
JWPF underwent two operations and various procedures to treat a cancerous growth |
|
59 |
2022 |
Sutton Surrey England |
Bibasal Atelectasis Etc |
3, 5, 6, 7 |
JWPF was hospitalised and diagnosed as suffering from bibasal atelectasis, pneumonia and covid-19 |
This article was researched and written by Charles Fairclough and first published on August 7, 2023.