TRAITOR or innocent victim?

That is the riddle to be solved at a special talk on the intriguing case of civil servant John Vassall.

Fifty years ago, Vassall was sentenced to 18 years’ imprisonment for espionage.

Vassall was a homosexual and whilst working as a clerk in the British Embassy in Moscow, he was caught in a ‘honey trap’ by the Soviet Secret Service and blackmailed into passing secrets to the Soviet Union.

So was Vassall a traitor or a victim? Judge for yourself.

The Scandalous Case of John Vassall is an illustrated talk by Mark Dunton, contemporary specialist at the National Archives.

The event, to be chaired by Prof John Shepherd, takes place on Thursday, March 14, in the Peter Higgs Suite, Researcher Hub, at The University of Huddersfield.

The talk begins at 6pm with refreshments from 5.30pm.

Places are limited so book by email to s.bridge@hud.ac.uk or call 01484 472839.