Hi Jettejjane,
I made a couple of trips to the British Library this week and, while there, checked out the September and October 1962 editions of the Portsmouth Evening News, the Hampshire Telegraph and the Gosport Journal. (Which I’d pre-ordered after researching what local newspapers covered Southsea in 1962.)
I discovered two small pieces in the Portsmouth Evening News and I’ll pm you about those; I found nothing at all in the Hampshire Telegraph, nor in the Gosport Journal.
Have just discovered another Hampshire newspaper that might be worth a look, the Hampshire Chronicle, and I’ve ordered it for my next BL visit, this coming week. Will also be checking out two others I’ve ordered: The Wembley Observer and the Wembley News. (Because, as you’ll see from my pm, Portsmouth police said the deceased was thought to be living in Wembley - and you mentioned that connection too.)
Have you heard back from Hants Archives yet? Their online catalogue suggests they do hold inquest records for 1962…BUT apparently they’re not publicly available and you’d need to write to the coroner to get permission to view the file. (The coroner’s address is on their website.)
Also, are you aware there are several trees featuring John Greest on Ancestry (and one on Genes Reunited)? Perhaps you could contact the tree owners to see what they know about Mr Greest’s demise? (If, like me, you’re not presently a subscriber to Ancestry or Genes Reunited, maybe some kind Rootschatter with an Ancestry/Genes Reunited subscription would pass a message, on your behalf, to the tree holders.)
I’ll let you know how I get on with the other newspapers mentioned above…please check your messages inbox now for my pm!
Best wishes,
theirchild.