Difference between revisions of "Crispin Aubrey"
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| − | '''John Nicholas Crispin Aubrey''' (3 January 1946 - 28 September 2012) was a British journalist. He was one of the defendants in the [[ABC Trial]] in 1978, named after the initials of the defendants' surnames, in which he and freelance journalist [[Duncan Campbell]] were convicted under the [[Official Secrets Act 1911]] for receiving classified information from [[John Berry]], a former [ | + | {{person |
| + | |name = Crispin Aubrey | ||
| + | |image = Crispin_Aubrey.jpg | ||
| + | |image_width = 150px | ||
| + | |birth_date = 3 January 1946 | ||
| + | |birth_place = Chipstead, Surrey | ||
| + | |death_date = 28 September 2012 | ||
| + | |death_place = Bridgwater, Somerset | ||
| + | |interests = environment, anti-nuclear power | ||
| + | |constitutes = journalist, author | ||
| + | |residence = UK | ||
| + | |nationality = UK | ||
| + | |known_for = ABC Trial | ||
| + | |alma_mater = Christ Church, Oxford | ||
| + | |employer = | ||
| + | |occupation = | ||
| + | |home_town = | ||
| + | |boards = | ||
| + | |religion = | ||
| + | |wikipedia = https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crispin_Aubrey | ||
| + | }} | ||
| + | '''John Nicholas Crispin Aubrey''' (3 January 1946 - 28 September 2012) was a British journalist. He was one of the defendants in the [[ABC Trial]] in 1978, named after the initials of the defendants' surnames, in which he and freelance journalist [[Duncan Campbell]] were convicted under the [[Official Secrets Act 1911]] for receiving classified information from [[John Berry]], a former [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signals_intelligence Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)] operator.<ref>[http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/sep/30/crispin-aubrey "Obituary"], ''[[The Guardian]]'', 30 September 2012</ref> | ||
| + | |||
| + | The controversy over the case eventually led to amendments to the law in the [[Official Secrets Act 1989]].<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-19718052 Crispin Aubrey dies aged 66], ''BBC News'', 30 September 2012</ref> | ||
==Early life and career== | ==Early life and career== | ||
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==ABC Trial== | ==ABC Trial== | ||
| + | [[File:ABC_Trial.jpg|300px|right|thumb|[[Duncan Campbell]], Crispin Aubrey and [[John Berry]] convicted at the [[ABC Trial]] ]] | ||
| + | In February 1977, Aubrey and freelance journalist [[Duncan Campbell]] were arrested after leaving the flat where they had been interviewing [[John Berry]], a former member of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signals_intelligence SIGINT], which is based at [[GCHQ]]. They were charged with unlawful disclosure and receipt of classified information, contrary to Section 2 of the [[Official Secrets Act 1911]], and charges were later added under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act. During a period of a year while they were awaiting trial, all three suffered intimidation and harassment, including house searches, were followed by plain clothes officers, and were required to report to the police each day. | ||
| − | + | Their defence was supported by the [[National Union of Journalists]] and civil liberties groups. The first [[ABC Trial]] at the [[Old Bailey]] in September 1978 collapsed after one of the members of the jury was identified as a former officer in the [[Special Air Service]]. When the second [[ABC Trial]] opened in October 1978, the prosecution admitted that much of the information was already in the public domain, and charges under Section 1 were dropped. Many witnesses testified under code letters - one, Colonel B, was identified as Colonel [[Hugh Johnstone]], head of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Signals_intelligence SIGINT], and protesters chanted his name outside the court. Aubrey, Berry and Campbell were convicted in November 1978 but received non-custodial sentences.<ref>[http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/fac/soc/pais/people/moran/classified/abc/ "The ABC Trial"]</ref><ref>[http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/crispin-aubrey-journalist-convicted-under-the-official-secrets-act-in-the-abc-trial-8202747.html "Crispin Aubrey: Journalist convicted under the Official Secrets Act in the 'ABC Trial'"], ''The Independent'', 9 October 2012</ref> | |
| − | |||
| − | Their defence was supported by the [[National Union of Journalists]] and civil liberties groups. | ||
==Later life== | ==Later life== | ||
| − | Crispin Aubrey moved to Nether Stowey in Somerset after the trial, where he became a smallholder and freelance journalist. He published a book in 1981, '' Who's Watching You? Britain's Security Service and the Official Secrets Act''. He also became involved in environmental issues. He advocated wind power, editing the magazine of the European Wind Energy Association, and opposed nuclear power. He published two books on environmental issues, ''Meltdown, the Collapse of the Nuclear Dream'' (1991), and ''Thorp: the Whitehall Nightmare'' (1993). He campaigned against the building of a new nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset. After working as a press officer for the Glastonbury Festival since the 1990s, he was co-editor of a book ''Glastonbury Festival Tales'' (2004) with John Shearlaw. | + | Crispin Aubrey moved to Nether Stowey in Somerset after the trial, where he became a smallholder and freelance journalist. He published a book in 1981, '' Who's Watching You? Britain's Security Service and the Official Secrets Act''. He also became involved in environmental issues. He advocated wind power, editing the magazine of the European Wind Energy Association, and opposed nuclear power. He published two books on environmental issues, ''Meltdown, the Collapse of the Nuclear Dream'' (1991), and ''Thorp: the Whitehall Nightmare'' (1993). He campaigned against the building of a new nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset. After working as a press officer for the Glastonbury Festival since the 1990s, he was co-editor of a book ''Glastonbury Festival Tales'' (2004) with John Shearlaw.<ref>[http://www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk/news/crispin-aubrey Crispin Aubrey], glastonburyfestivals.co.uk, 1 October 2012</ref> |
He died of a heart attack in Bridgwater, Somerset. | He died of a heart attack in Bridgwater, Somerset. | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
| − | + | <references/> | |
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==External links== | ==External links== | ||
Revision as of 14:51, 4 August 2015
 Crispin Aubrey    (journalist, author) | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 3 January 1946 Chipstead, Surrey |
| Died | 28 September 2012 (Age 66) Bridgwater, Somerset |
| Residence | UK |
| Nationality | UK |
| Alma mater | Christ Church, Oxford |
| Known for | ABC Trial |
| Interests | • environment • anti-nuclear power |
John Nicholas Crispin Aubrey (3 January 1946 - 28 September 2012) was a British journalist. He was one of the defendants in the ABC Trial in 1978, named after the initials of the defendants' surnames, in which he and freelance journalist Duncan Campbell were convicted under the Official Secrets Act 1911 for receiving classified information from John Berry, a former Signals Intelligence (SIGINT) operator.[1]
The controversy over the case eventually led to amendments to the law in the Official Secrets Act 1989.[2]
Early life and career
Crispin Aubrey was born in Chipstead, Surrey. His father was an insurance broker, and his mother was an illustrator. He was educated at Leighton Park School, an independent Quaker school in Reading, and studied English at Christ Church, Oxford. He married Susan Jacob in 1968. They had three daughters.
He worked as a journalist at the Hampshire Chronicle, before moving to Time Out magazine in 1974 as an investigative reporter concentrating on environmental issues. He became involved in an unsuccessful campaign to prevent the government deporting two Americans - former CIA case officer Philip Agee and Time Out journalist Mark Hosenball - on national security grounds after they wrote an article on GCHQ.
ABC Trial
In February 1977, Aubrey and freelance journalist Duncan Campbell were arrested after leaving the flat where they had been interviewing John Berry, a former member of SIGINT, which is based at GCHQ. They were charged with unlawful disclosure and receipt of classified information, contrary to Section 2 of the Official Secrets Act 1911, and charges were later added under Section 1 of the Official Secrets Act. During a period of a year while they were awaiting trial, all three suffered intimidation and harassment, including house searches, were followed by plain clothes officers, and were required to report to the police each day.
Their defence was supported by the National Union of Journalists and civil liberties groups. The first ABC Trial at the Old Bailey in September 1978 collapsed after one of the members of the jury was identified as a former officer in the Special Air Service. When the second ABC Trial opened in October 1978, the prosecution admitted that much of the information was already in the public domain, and charges under Section 1 were dropped. Many witnesses testified under code letters - one, Colonel B, was identified as Colonel Hugh Johnstone, head of SIGINT, and protesters chanted his name outside the court. Aubrey, Berry and Campbell were convicted in November 1978 but received non-custodial sentences.[3][4]
Later life
Crispin Aubrey moved to Nether Stowey in Somerset after the trial, where he became a smallholder and freelance journalist. He published a book in 1981, Who's Watching You? Britain's Security Service and the Official Secrets Act. He also became involved in environmental issues. He advocated wind power, editing the magazine of the European Wind Energy Association, and opposed nuclear power. He published two books on environmental issues, Meltdown, the Collapse of the Nuclear Dream (1991), and Thorp: the Whitehall Nightmare (1993). He campaigned against the building of a new nuclear reactor at Hinkley Point C nuclear power station in Somerset. After working as a press officer for the Glastonbury Festival since the 1990s, he was co-editor of a book Glastonbury Festival Tales (2004) with John Shearlaw.[5]
He died of a heart attack in Bridgwater, Somerset.
References
- ↑ "Obituary", The Guardian, 30 September 2012
- ↑ Crispin Aubrey dies aged 66, BBC News, 30 September 2012
- ↑ "The ABC Trial"
- ↑ "Crispin Aubrey: Journalist convicted under the Official Secrets Act in the 'ABC Trial'", The Independent, 9 October 2012
- ↑ Crispin Aubrey, glastonburyfestivals.co.uk, 1 October 2012
External links
- Obituary, The Times, 5 October 2012
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