Psychic Detective
Each month, ex-cop and psychic Nicky Alan teams up with her spirit guides to investigate an unsolved mystery. Here she delves into the tragic death of Rolling Stones founder Brian Jones
A visit to Cotchford Farm in Hartfield, East Sussex, is to step back to an age of magic and innocence. Once owned by the writer AA Milne, the house and surrounding countryside were the inspiration for Milne’s enchanting Winnie-the-Pooh books. Milne’s son Christopher Robin played Poohsticks on the nearby bridge and explored the idyllic woods.
However, the farm also has darker associations. Around midnight on 2 July 1969, a man was found motionless in the property’s swimming pool. He was 27-year-old Brian Jones, the founder and original leader of the Rolling Stones.
The coroner’s report gave ‘drowning’ as the cause of death, which was later clarified as ‘swimming while under the influence of alcohol and drugs — misadventure’.
It was also noted that his liver and heart were enlarged from substance abuse.
It looked as if Brian Jones had paid the ultimate price for his hard-living rock lifestyle.
Only, some people weren’t buying it. Over the following years, various theories about Brian’s death began to emerge, and it was suggested that his drowning had been staged to look like an accident. But who would want him dead?
Many believed the main ‘suspect’ was a builder called Frank Thorogood. Brian had employed Frank to renovate the farmhouse. While carrying out the work, Frank moved into a flat above Brian’s garage with his girlfriend Janet Lawson.
However, Frank and his team seemed to do more partying at Cotchford Farm than work. Brian’s friends felt Frank and his mates were hangers-on and simply using the musician.
So why would some people come to the conclusion that Frank killed, or even murdered, Brian?
The facts of what happened that night are sketchy, with conflicting accounts of the sequence of events and who was actually there.
What is known is that Wednesday 2 July 1969 was extremely hot, and the high pollen count was causing Brian’s asthma to flare up.
In the early evening, Brian and his Swedish girlfriend Anna Wohlin had dinner with Frank and Janet. Later, they had drinks together before heading to the pool. Brian wanted to go for a swim as it was still very hot.
Frank would later tell the police that he had to help steady Brian as he was staggering about and having difficulty balancing on the diving board.
At some point, the two women left Brian and Frank in the pool. Janet estimated they must have been in the water together for about half an hour before Frank returned to the flat around midnight for a cigarette.
Janet then decided to go and check on Brian, only to find him motionless at the bottom of the pool.
