UK UK- England, makeshift shelter near the A1 @Biggleswade, John Doe ''Old Rag Bones', white, blue eyes, 50-59, 5'4'', well-spoken, 6/2/97.

[dotr]

6th Feb 2025

Fresh appeal hopes to identify man found dead near Biggleswade 28 years ago

A new appeal is hoping to solve the 28-year-old mystery of a body found near the A1 at Biggleswade.

www.biggleswadetoday.co.uk

''The body of the man was discovered in a makeshift shelter next to the A1 at Biggleswade on February 6, 1997, by a group of boys playing truant from school.''

Images of the man and tattoo produced by the University of Dundee Centre for Anatomy and Human Identification

''The man was described as a white European in his 50s, 5ft 4ins and of slim build. He had grey collar-length hair, a full beard and blue eyes.
He also had a tattoo of a woman on top of a heart with a name in the centre on his right arm. The name was unclear, but could have had five or six letters and possibly began with a P or B and ended with a Y or S.''

''When found, he was wearing a black blouson zip-up jacket with a grey woollen lining, a black crew neck jumper, black T-shirt and black trousers.''

''But one of the schoolboys who found the body said he occasionally chatted to him in Biggleswade and remembers him saying he once worked or lived in London.
It is believed he could also have had links to Sutton, Langford, Astwick and Clifton.''

 

[liminal-limitless]

The name on the tattoo is almost certainly Patsy, right?

 

[dotr]

By Dan Mountney rbbm.

Fresh appeal to identify man found dead in Bedfordshire almost 30 years ago

A fresh appeal has been launched in an effort to identify a man who was found dead in Bedfordshire in 1997.

www.thecomet.net

''Although foul play is not suspected, the full Coroner’s report has never been released, but missing persons charity Locate International now believes the cause of death to be a brain tumour.''

''It has now launched a fresh appeal in a bid to identify the man, who was nicknamed the Travelling Knife Sharpener, as he would often visit properties, particularly farms, sharpening knives and tools in return for food.''

''Known locally to be a homeless man, he was regularly seen pushing a ladies’ green bike around Biggleswade, and is also believed to have visited Sutton, Langford, Astwick and Clifton''.

Names such as Betty, Betsy, Patty, Patsy or Phyllis have been suggested.

 

[pokerowan]

Famiiar with this ares and I've always wondered about this chap - nice to see some fresh attention on him. Hopefully someone recognises TKS.

 

[MelmothTheLost]

This is another case which is being investigated by a volunteer team at Locate.

Biggleswade Man — Locate International

locate.international

 

[luxISlight]

The name on the tattoo is almost certainly Patsy, right?

Looks most like Patsy to me as well.