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05/05/2006
US link to 'fake earl'
The mystery behind the identity of a man who stole a name from a dead baby's headstone and called himself Lord Buckingham may finally be solved.
According to a report in 'The Times', the real name of Christopher Buckingham is believed to be Charles Albert Stopford, who disappeared from his home in Florida in 1983.
It is believed that Mr Stopford was a former member of a US Navy intelligence unit.
Mr Stopford was last seen in April 1983, when he was living with his grandmother in Orlando.
The following year, a man calling himself Christopher Buckingham - an identity assumed from the headstone of an eight-month-old baby who died in 1963 - met his wife-to-be, Jody Doe, in Germany.
Using the dead baby's identity, Buckingham obtained a British passport and national insurance number. He also used the title of Lord Buckingham - a title which has been extinct since 1687 - and used faked headed notepaper containing the Buckingham coat of arms.
The couple moved to England, married and had two children before divorcing in 1997.
Buckingham was arrested when new security measures introduced after the 9/11 attacks led to his passport being revoked when it was found to match the death certificate of the real Christopher Buckingham.
He was jailed for 21 months last year for passport offences, which was reduced to nine months on appeal.
Kent Police said that the revelation was a "promising development" and said that they were in contact with Interpol and the US authorities in order to obtain fingerprint and DNA checks.
Charles Stopford told 'The Times' that he would be "absolutely delighted" if the man turned out to be his missing son. He said: "I haven't seen my son for more than 20 years. We are still awaiting confirmation, but if it is him we will all be absolutely delighted."
(KMcA)
According to a report in 'The Times', the real name of Christopher Buckingham is believed to be Charles Albert Stopford, who disappeared from his home in Florida in 1983.
It is believed that Mr Stopford was a former member of a US Navy intelligence unit.
Mr Stopford was last seen in April 1983, when he was living with his grandmother in Orlando.
The following year, a man calling himself Christopher Buckingham - an identity assumed from the headstone of an eight-month-old baby who died in 1963 - met his wife-to-be, Jody Doe, in Germany.
Using the dead baby's identity, Buckingham obtained a British passport and national insurance number. He also used the title of Lord Buckingham - a title which has been extinct since 1687 - and used faked headed notepaper containing the Buckingham coat of arms.
The couple moved to England, married and had two children before divorcing in 1997.
Buckingham was arrested when new security measures introduced after the 9/11 attacks led to his passport being revoked when it was found to match the death certificate of the real Christopher Buckingham.
He was jailed for 21 months last year for passport offences, which was reduced to nine months on appeal.
Kent Police said that the revelation was a "promising development" and said that they were in contact with Interpol and the US authorities in order to obtain fingerprint and DNA checks.
Charles Stopford told 'The Times' that he would be "absolutely delighted" if the man turned out to be his missing son. He said: "I haven't seen my son for more than 20 years. We are still awaiting confirmation, but if it is him we will all be absolutely delighted."
(KMcA)
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08 May 2006
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The true identity of a man who stole the name of a dead baby has been confirmed as Charles Albert Stopford III, a US citizen from Clearwater, Florida. Mr Stopford was last seen by his family in April 1983, when he was living with his grandmother in Orlando. Mr Stopford lived under the name of Christopher Buckingham for more than 20 years.
Baby name fraudster is finally identified
The true identity of a man who stole the name of a dead baby has been confirmed as Charles Albert Stopford III, a US citizen from Clearwater, Florida. Mr Stopford was last seen by his family in April 1983, when he was living with his grandmother in Orlando. Mr Stopford lived under the name of Christopher Buckingham for more than 20 years.
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03 July 2015
Minute's Silence Held For Tunisia Attack Victims
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A national one minute of silence was held today at 12pm as a mark of respect to those who died in a terrorist attack in Tunisia last week. Flags will also be lowered to half-mast at government buildings, military bases and embassies. Buckingham Palace will also fly its flag at half mast for an official day of mourning.
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