River Avon Man
A white male aged 45 – 60 years was found in the River Avon in Bristol, near the old British Steel Tar Works on Crews Hill Road, on 14th October 1981. He was believed to have been in the water for several days.
Living depiction of River Avon Man by Forensic Artist Hew Morrrison
What we know
Appearance:
Brown receding hair.
Blue eyes.
A scar on his abdomen.
175cm (5’8″) tall.
Large build.
Clothing:
Brown duffle overcoat.
Brown V-neck jumper size 53.
Grey and black checked trousers.
Brown size 11 lace-up ‘half length’ boots.
A cotton undergarment which buttoned to the neck.
Possessions:
He had a bronze coloured medallion on a 24"-long chain bearing male and female heads with the inscription ‘Duke of Edinburgh and Grand Duchess Marie of Russia Married 1874’.
An example of the medallion found with River Avon Man.
Please note. the images shown are visual representations only and do not depict the actual jewellery items found in his possession.
Front of medallion showing male and female heads
Back of medallion showing the nscription ‘Duke of Edinburgh and Grand Duchess Marie of Russia Married 1874’.
About the area
The Crews Hole Tar Works, in the St George area of Bristol, stood beside the River Avon and had a long industrial history. The tar distillery was established in 1843, and the site was taken over by the British Steel Corporation in 1970. Amid falling demand for steel, the works closed in 1981 and the site remained derelict for several years. In 1989, the heavily industrialised site was cleared and redeveloped as the modern housing estate of Quayside Village, along Quayside Lane and Crews Hole Road.
Questions you can ask yourself
We’re confident that after over 40 years, River Avon Man’s identity can be found thanks to just one person with one piece of information.
You may have family, friends or neighbours who might be able to recall meeting or seeing him in Bristol in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s. If you could share our appeal with them or talk to them about this case, it may jog someone’s memory.
Any information, regardless of how insignificant it may seem could steer our investigation in the right direction.
Did you live or work in the Crews Hole Road area of Bristol in the late 1970’s to early 1980’s and remember seeing this man?
Do any of his clothes or belongings sound familiar? For example, the bronze coloured medallion he was found with?
Could he have worked alongside you, a friend or a family member at the steelworks or on the Tugboats? Could he have been a British Rail cargo worker as a member of the shunting crews or a track maintenance worker?
Before the steelworks closed in 1981 there would’ve been a busy social scene amongst the industrial workers at working mens pubs and social clubs. Maybe you mixed in the same circles and can remember something?
Does he remind you of anyone you once knew, or someone you have lost touch with?
Do you have any other information that could help our team return his identity?
There is always hope, and you could be the person that makes the difference.
No matter how seemingly small the information you have, it really may be the answer we need. Information provided can be submitted anonymously, and submissions will be treated in confidence. Everything we receive will be reviewed by our dedicated team of volunteers. Please do not use this form for emergency assistance in locating a person. Please call 999.