Talk:Kempton Bunton

Kempton Bunton

I AM RELATED TO KEMPTON BUNTON AND MY GREAT AUNTIE SAID HE WAS A REALLY NICE MAN!!! —Preceding unsigned comment added by 86.4.218.108 (talk) 12:57, 2 January 2008 (UTC)

Edit from 3 October 2020...

This investigation was totally botched. The gallery printing department had produced several hundred manuals which needed binding which had to be done in house due to the confidential nature of the contents, I worked for a company which had a portable binding system and we were commissioned to do the job. My colleague and I entered the gallery that evening and commenced the job at around 6 pm. By 11 pm we were about half way through and I needed to relieve myself. The lady who was supervising us directed me to the toilet at the back of the building via a long corridor which passed many galleries. On entering the toilet I was surprised to see a man, tall, of slim build and wearing overalls, he was about my age (21 at the time). I greeted him and he told me he was the cleaner. I returned to the printing room and we continued the job but by midnight or so we left with the intention of returning another day to finish the job. Some days later two detectives came to see me and explained what had happened and asked if I would accompany them to New Scotland Yard. I was interviewed there and explained about my meeting with the cleaner, then I was told that no cleaning staff were on duty that evening which sent shivers down my spine. I was never interviewed again and never thought any more about it. In 1971 I emigrated to Australia where I have lived ever since but only recently did I become curious about the outcome of the case and read several articles including Wikipedia. To my amazement I learned that Kempton Bunton had been convicted and jailed for stealing the frame and some years later his son John confessed to the theft. Had I been called as a witness I could have confirmed that Kempton Bunton was not the man I saw that evening. Now I would like to know if my record of interview at New Scotland Yard exists in the archives somewhere.

Martin Corke.

Added by No Swan So Fine (talk) 16:28, 7 October 2020 (UTC)

"allegedly" in first sentence

'allegedly' should be replaced with unambiguous past tense since he was cleared, so should be reworded to something like 'whom was alleged'. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.40.199.152 (talk) 13:42, 14 February 2022 (UTC)

Moved from article

THEFT OF GOYA PAINTING FROM THE NATIONAL GALLERY LONDON 21/08/1961

Somewhere in the archives of New Scotland Yard there must be a report of the interview I had with the police. Even though I was the only witness to this theft they never recalled me after giving them a statement, which would have confirmed that it could not have been Kempton Bunton who removed the painting and was charged with the theft.

My company supplied a portable bookbinding system and also offered a binding service "in house". The National Gallery commissioned us to carry out some binding work on a manual they had produced and arranged for us to bring the equipment to the library and carry out the work. This took place on the evening of the theft. Late in the evening I needed to visit the toilet and was directed where to go by the librarian who was supervising us. I recall walking past a number of galleries unhindered and eventually arrived at the toilet. As I opened the door I saw a young man about my age ( I was 21 at the time), he was fairly tall and of slim build. I was a somewhat surprised to see anyone because the gallery was closed, he told me he was the cleaner. I thought no more about it and returned to continue our work.

Some days later my colleague and I were visited by detectives from New Scotland Yard who asked me to attend an interview. At the yard they asked me to recount my movements on the evening we were at the Gallery. I told them about our work and my visit to the toilet where I met the cleaner. To my surprise they then told me that no cleaners were working that evening! I was told about the theft but thought no more about it until I saw a news article after Kempton Bunton was released from prison having served 3 months for the theft. I am now convinced that the person I saw that evening was his son and would love to contact him because I am sure he will remember my visit to the toilet and our brief meeting. Why the police never contacted me again puzzles me because the person I saw that evening could not have been Kempton due to the massive difference in his build and age.

I always thought Kempton's son was named John but from an article in the Daily Mail it appears his name is Jackie.

Martin Corke.

— Preceding unsigned comment added by Jack Upland (talk • contribs) 01:27, 19 March 2022 (UTC)

To add to article

Information to add to this article: did Bunton's action cause the UK's television licence fee to be revoked, or cause pensioners to be exempted from TV licence fees, as he had wished? 173.88.246.138 (talk) 22:43, 23 May 2022 (UTC)