Читать книгу An Ordinary Guy, Operation Saponify - Andrew Gilbrook - Страница 6

Preface

Karen, my secretary, died in 2014 of cancer. I learned of her death while on holiday in Spain and I was unable to attend her funeral. We had not seen each other at all since I left the Intelligence Service in 1988, we hadn't properly said goodbye due to the circumstances of my leaving. My greatest regret in all this is that I lost her without seeing her again and I am saddened friends and contacts in the Service never thought to tell me we were losing the most professional beautiful lady this and any other world could have.

Without Karen, I would never achieve what I did, she made my career possible. Both my books about my time in MI6 I hope, demonstrate her humanity, her skill, and most importantly to me her sense of humour. While not specifically about Karen, I write with a sad heart knowing her light no longer shines on this earth. Only in 2014 when she died I realised I no longer wanted to keep my life to myself, I spent the years from 1988 keeping everything inside me, alone in my secrets, our secrets. Her loss inspired me to write my first book because verbal explanations were never enough, merely talking to people it seemed impossible to tell of my past in a believable enough way for others to understand our history.

This book, based on real events, is dedicated to Karen, my inspiration and memory in everything…

Some events have been enhanced to improve the dramatic effect. Many names changed for the security of the individual and in some cases to save their embarrassment.