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The Old Fox: Case Files · Episode 11
The Stolen World Cup and Pickles the Dog
Four months before England hosted the 1966 World Cup, the trophy was stolen from an exhibition in Westminster. A ransom, an arrest and a cold trail followed, until a collie called Pickles sniffed out a bundle of newspaper in south London.
- The World Cup trophy was stolen on 20 March 1966 from a stamp exhibition at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, months before England hosted the tournament (Wikipedia, 'Pickles (dog)'; National Football Museum).
- A £15,000 ransom was demanded; Edward Betchley was arrested, said he was only a middleman, and was jailed for two years. No one else was ever found (Wikipedia).
- On 27 March 1966, a collie called Pickles found the trophy wrapped in newspaper by a parked car on Beulah Hill in south London while out with his owner, David Corbett (Wikipedia; National Football Museum).
- Corbett received nearly £5,000 in rewards, and Pickles was given a medal and invited to England's World Cup celebration banquet (Wikipedia; National Football Museum).
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What the fox said
The best detective in this story had four legs, and a very good nose. Let's see what's on.
London, March 1966. England is about to host the World Cup. And the trophy is on show at a stamp exhibition in Westminster.
On Sunday the twentieth, someone opens the cabinet. The trophy is gone.
Four months before the tournament. The World Cup, stolen. In England.
Then a ransom demand arrives. Fifteen thousand pounds, sent to the chairman of Chelsea Football Club.
Police set up a handover, and arrest a man named Edward Betchley. He claims he's only the middleman.
But there's no trophy. And the trail goes cold.
Sunday the twenty-seventh. A Thames lighterman, David Corbett, takes his dog out for a walk in south London.
The dog's name? Pickles. A four-year-old collie.
Pickles sniffs out a bundle wrapped in newspaper, by a parked car on Beulah Hill.
It's the World Cup. And for a while, Corbett himself falls under suspicion.
He's cleared, and collects a reward of nearly five thousand pounds. Betchley gets two years. The real thief? Never found.
That summer, England win the World Cup. And Pickles is invited to the celebration banquet.
Every good detective needs a nose. Case closed. Keep your nose to the wind.
Sources
- The World Cup trophy was stolen on 20 March 1966 from a stamp exhibition at Methodist Central Hall in Westminster, months before England hosted the tournament (Wikipedia, 'Pickles (dog)'; National Football Museum).
- A £15,000 ransom was demanded; Edward Betchley was arrested, said he was only a middleman, and was jailed for two years. No one else was ever found (Wikipedia).
- On 27 March 1966, a collie called Pickles found the trophy wrapped in newspaper by a parked car on Beulah Hill in south London while out with his owner, David Corbett (Wikipedia; National Football Museum).
- Corbett received nearly £5,000 in rewards, and Pickles was given a medal and invited to England's World Cup celebration banquet (Wikipedia; National Football Museum).
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