The History Podcast: The Lucan Obsession – Episode 9: A Race Across the World

Release Date: October 28, 2024

Introduction

In Episode 9 of The Lucan Obsession, titled "A Race Across the World," host Alex Von Tunzelman delves deep into the enigmatic disappearance of Lord Lucan, a British peer who vanished in 1974 following the infamous murder of Sandra Rivett. This episode explores the myriad theories, sensational media coverage, and persistent public fascination that have kept Lord Lucan's story alive for decades.

1. The Mysterious Death of David Hardy and the Clue

The episode opens with the tragic death of David Hardy, a regular at the Claremont Club and a friend of Lord Lucan, who died in a car crash in Essex in 1980, six years after Lucan's disappearance.

• Alex Von Tunzelman [00:43]: "In 1980, six years after Lord Lucan had disappeared, a Claremont Club regular called David Hardy was killed in a car crash in Essex. Among the belongings police found in the wreckage was an extraordinary clue."

• Jackie Moulton [00:58]: "One of Lucan's drinking buddies got wiped out by a car and a PC got an address book out of his pocket which said Lord Lucan. Hotel Ambassadors Bera, Mozambique."

This unexpected clue reignited speculation about Lucan's fate, with his address book referencing Hotel Ambassadors in Beira, Mozambique, prompting journalists to search for him there. However, the search yielded nothing, leaving questions about whether Lucan had indeed fled or if the address was a mere prank.

2. The Media's Insatiable Appetite for the Lucan Story

The murder of Sandra Rivett captured the nation's attention, and the media's relentless pursuit of Lord Lucan transformed the case into a prolonged saga that extended well beyond the 1970s.

• Alex Von Tunzelman [01:08]: "The murder of Sandra Rivett gripped the nation... The press needed a sequel. So their focus shifted to the question that would propel this crime story out of the 70s and keep it going through the 80s, 90s, even into the 21st century, still looking for Lucan all over the world."

This persistent media coverage kept Lord Lucan in the public consciousness, fostering numerous sightings and rumors about his whereabouts across the globe.

• James Fox [01:56]: "And until these sightings run out, we'll continue to follow everyone up."

• Bob Strange [02:00]: "Where is he now? And that's partly, I think, why it has stayed in the public consciousness for so long..."

3. The Elusiveness of Lord Lucan

Despite extensive searches, including underwater dives in New Haven Harbor where Lucan's abandoned car was found, no definitive evidence of his fate emerged.

• Alex Von Tunzelman [02:31]: "When the borrowed car Lord Lucan drove on the night of the murder was found abandoned at the south coast port of New Haven. Divers searched the sea for a body."

• James Fox [02:31]: "Tomorrow, weather permitting, the police divers are due to carry out an underwater search of the harbor."

Even the discovery of what seemed like a suicide note raised doubts:

• Alex Von Tunzelman [02:46]: "The last letters we know he wrote... Perhaps he'd thrown himself off the harbour, a cliff, the side of a ferry. The divers found nothing. Does that mean he got away?"

4. The Grim Realities of Missing Persons at Sea

Louise Newell, Operations Manager for the National Crime Agency's Missing Persons Unit, provides insights into why bodies might not be recovered from the ocean.

• Louise Newell [03:23]: "There are so many factors... your body size, your body composition, what you're wearing, the weather, even your body parts can be eaten."

She elaborates on the challenges:

• Louise Newell [03:41]: "Skeletons will come apart and body parts can be washed along... Your bones can be sort of on the bottom of the ocean... shifting tectonic plates."

This grim explanation underscores the possibility that Lord Lucan's body could have indeed vanished without a trace, leaving the door open for his escape theories.

5. Media-Driven Hoaxes and Fake Sightings

The public's fascination with Lord Lucan led to numerous hoaxes and fabricated stories, making it increasingly difficult to discern fact from fiction.

• James Fox [04:15]: "Journalist James Fox... there was a certain crab in the New Haven harbour that would actually feed on human bones..."

• James Fox [05:03]: "Aspinall's tigers would have found Lord Lucan slightly distasteful... or so full of alcohol they would have spat him out."

Notable hoaxes included:

• An ITN camera crew was tricked into visiting a fake location where staged events were presented as evidence of Lucan's whereabouts.

• Bob Strange recounted receiving a forged death certificate and a photograph of a grave:

  • Bob Strange [10:04]: "I thought any newspaper I went to and said... would you like to stand on this grave and say, this is where aristocratic, wealthy Lord Lucan ended up?"

Eventually, the hoax was exposed as a fabrication from a pet shop.

• Claire McGowan [10:28]: "But the hoaxer eventually admitted he'd made it all up from his Welsh pet shop."

6. The Possibility of Lord Lucan's Escape

Despite numerous false leads, some evidence suggested that Lord Lucan might have successfully escaped and assumed a new identity.

• Alex Von Tunzelman [10:37]: "But there are reasons to think he really might have got away."

Key points include:

• Lord Lucan's Second Letter: Differing from a suicide note, it directed his friend Michael Stoop to burn the envelope, indicating an attempt to cover his tracks.

  • Alex Von Tunzelman [10:48]: "But there are reasons to think he really might have got away..."

• Financial Resources: Lucan had access to bank accounts in Switzerland and Southern Rhodesia (now Zimbabwe), facilitating potential movement.

• Louise Newell [11:27]: "It's a difficult question because if someone does this successfully, we don't ever find them... I suspect it's probably happened more frequently than we're aware of."

7. Intriguing Evidence from Police Files

Jackie Moulton revisits old documents revealing potential clues that could support the escape theory.

• Jackie Moulton [12:10]: "A very, very senior officer, Chief Officer of Police, thought that he saw a man with the same description as Lucan buying cigarettes... the credit card used was owned by one of Lord Lucan's friends."

Additionally, discrepancies in Lucan's travel plans suggest possible deception:

• Jackie Moulton [12:30]: "A light aircraft had been booked... but it was seen on radar going to Southern Air, where Lucan had his country estate."

These pieces of evidence hint at sophisticated methods Lord Lucan might have employed to evade capture.

8. The Psychological and Social Implications

The enduring belief in Lord Lucan's survival reflects broader societal themes.

• Claire McGowan [10:37]: "We like to believe that there is a different world for the rich..."

This belief caters to the notion that the affluent can escape dire circumstances effortlessly, adding a layer of psychological intrigue to the case.

9. Personal Accounts and Family Perspectives

Familial opinions and testimonies add depth to the narrative.

• Susan Maxwell Scott: "Far as I'm concerned, my husband is still alive and I have no reason to believe otherwise."

• Alex Von Tunzelman [13:36]: "Perhaps psychologically, his friends and family needed to believe Lord Lucan was alive. Or perhaps he just was alive and they knew it."

These perspectives highlight the personal toll and hope that persists among those close to Lucan.

Conclusion

"A Race Across the World" intricately weaves the complex tapestry of Lord Lucan's disappearance, examining the interplay between media sensationalism, public obsession, and the elusive truth. While numerous theories exist, the episode underscores the enduring mystery that continues to captivate and baffle investigators, journalists, and the general public alike.

Alex Von Tunzelman closes the episode by hinting at new developments that may shed further light on the case in future installments, ensuring that the quest to uncover the truth about Lord Lucan's fate remains ongoing.

Notable Quotes:

• James Fox [04:15]: "It reached its peak at the end of this trip on a night that was legendary night of drinking."

• Bob Strange [10:04]: "I thought any newspaper I went to and said, would you like to stand on this grave and say..."

• Louise Newell [10:37]: "We like to believe that there is a different world for the rich..."

Further Listening

Stay tuned for upcoming episodes of The Lucan Obsession as Alex Von Tunzelman continues to explore the myriad facets of this enduring mystery.