A fresh appeal has been launched to help identify a man who was found dead in a field in Kent nine years ago.
The so-called ‘Canterbury Man’ is believed to have been living off grid in the area where he was discovered near Hollow Lane on February 3, 2017.
He was found with an Oyster card that had been bought in Walthamstow, east London, a psychology book, and a decanter with drinking glasses.
One witness told cold case charity Locate International they had spoken to the man, giving a precious glimpse into his possible background, but his identity has remained a mystery for nearly a decade.
Mark Greenhalgh, the charity’s CEO, said: ‘Every unidentified person represents a gap in someone’s world; a missing husband, a father, a friend whose fate is unknown.
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‘Nine years is a long time to be without a name, but it is never too late to give someone back their identity.
‘If anything about this man is familiar to you, we urge you to come forward.’
As part of its renewed appeal, the charity has released an image reconstruction showing what he may have looked like at the time of his death.
When he was found, Canterbury Man was shirtless, without teeth and in possession of ‘several unusual items’.
They included a book titled ‘Clinical Theology: A Theological and Psychological Basis to Clinical Pastoral Care’ by Frank Lake, and a black suitcase containing toiletries and a wedding catalogue addressed to ‘Mandy Martin’.
He was of a slim build, with some signs of malnutrition. He had blue eyes, short white hair and a full, short beard. He was reportedly found alongside an upper set of dentures, but it is unclear whether he had additional teeth or a lower set of dentures.
Canterbury Man was said to have died of natural causes 48 hours before he was found.
The charity said the witness they spoke to said they met him several times and said they believed he was English and a veteran of the Armed Forces.
They said he recounted separating from his wife and living in the field near to where he was discovered.
While the area Canterbury Man was found in is now a housing estate, at the time of his death it was a signposted walking route called the Wincheap Footpath, popular with dog walkers.
The charity also believes he was using the Canterbury East-based homeless shelter, Catching Lives, to access food and support.
He is also thought to have visited the Catching Lives bookstore on several occasions.
How you can help
Ask yourself, and people you know, these questions:
1. Do you recognise this man?
2. Is the name ‘Mandy Martin’ familiar to you? Is this perhaps you and you were unable to come forward at the time?
3. Did you volunteer at Catching Lives or its bookshop in Canterbury and meet Canterbury Man?
4. Do you recognise Canterbury Man as someone you served with in the military?
5. Do you work with veterans, as it is possible Canterbury Man experienced PTSD and may have been supported by you?
6. Were you a dog walker in this area, and may have seen or spoken to him?
7. We believe he may have had connections to Walthamstow. Did you live in/frequently visit this area during this time, and recognise him?
Clues to help place the incident in time
To help contextualise the time Canterbury Man was found, Donald Trump had the inauguration of his first term in January that year (January 20), while on January 21 there was the Women’s March Against Trump.
Ed Sheeran’s Shape of You was number 1 in the charts, and it was the same month Bernie Ecclestone stood down as the CEO of F1 after 40 years.
Anyone with information should contact Locate International by emailing appeals@locate.international, by calling 0300 102 1011 or by visiting https://locate.international/unidentified-people/canterbury-man.
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