Unidentified remains of a deceased male found in rocks at Beadnell, Northumberland, UK 9th May 1972
Beadnell Bay Man was found on the rocks at Beadnell in the Northumbria Police force area. He is believed to have been between 50 – 60 years of age (so born 1922-32), white European, approximately 5’7” – 5’8” and of stocky build, with light brown, greying hair. When found he had no teeth. It was not possible to determine if his teeth were missing post mortem or whether he wore dentures and they had been lost post mortem.He is believed to have been in the sea for between 3 weeks and 3 months which suggest from prevailing currents that he entered the sea on the eastern seaboard of Scotland and drifted south. He was wearing a dark blue suit jacket and trousers and a white shirt. The two parts of the suit each bore the name of ‘G. Strachan’ or ‘C. Strachan’ and the number 6. There was very little publicity at the time and it is not known whether the case was ever promoted in Scotland.
At the time of posting, I have requested access to the files of both Northumbria Police and the Northumberland Coroner's Office.
It's a location I know well, and would have been within weeks of the discovery, albeit as a child. The suit has always puzzled me: was G or C Strachan a tailor and the suit a No.6 or the 6th made? Adults don't normally put their own names into their clothes, especially clothing as this formal, which suggests a maker. Or perhaps it was a dry-cleaning or laundry tag. Without viewing it, we can only speculate.
