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The Disappearance of Simon PARKES on 12/12/1986

This is the investigation into the disappearance of Simon PARKES. Simon was last seen in Gibraltar on the evening of 12th December 1986 whilst on shore leave from HMS Illustrious.


Details of Incident

Royal Navy Rating Parkes, from Bristol, was last seen in December 1986, when the ship he was serving on, HMS Illustrious, was docked in Gibraltar.

The 18 year old radio operator went onto shore but never made it back on-board and when the ship returned to Portsmouth days later, no-one knew what had happened to him despite a huge search to find him.

Extensive enquiries have been carried out over the years and decades since his disappearance to try and determine what happened to Simon and where he may be.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Major Crime Department continue to investigate the disappearance of Simon Parkes. Detectives are currently working with Royal Gibraltar Police to complete enquiries in Gibraltar following new evidence.

If you have information about what happened to Simon, please click on the below

Contact Information

If you would prefer to speak to someone, please call 101 and ask for Hampshire Constabulary, quoting reference 44190129695 or Operation Thornhill 2

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or through their online anonymous form at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.  No personal details are taken, calls cannot be traced or recorded and you will not go to court.