Gerald Brooke

Who is Gerald Brooke?

Gerald Brooke, who was born on Pearson Place in Sheffield, was a British teacher who taught Russian. In 1965 he travelled to the Soviet Union. Brooke and his wife Barbara were arrested on 25 April by KGB agents for smuggling anti-Soviet leaflets.

Barbara was later released and returned to Britain, but Gerald was sentenced to five years detention, including four years in labour camps, for "subversive anti-Soviet activity on the territory of the Soviet Union".

Brooke lived in Finchley in northwest London and his case was raised in the House of Commons by local MP Margaret Thatcher.

After four years in custody he was exchanged on 24 July, 1969, for Soviet spies Morris and Lona Cohen, AKA Peter and Helen Kroger, who had been arrested by Special Branch detectives. The Russian authorities only told Brooke he was being sent home 24 hours before he got back to Britain.

Upon his arrival at Heathrow Brooke was surprised by the huge presence of journalists and reporters. He explained that he was suffering from an inflamed colon, aggravated by prison food, and he was not used to speaking English or seeing so many people.