Author(s): Anthony Summers

History

In 1963 John Profumo, the British Secretary of State for War, was revealed as the lover of a teenage model, Christine Keeler, who was also the mistress of Yevgeny Ivanov, a naval attach at the embassy of the Soviet Union and reputedly a Russian spy. The ensuing investigation into what became known as the Profumo Affair uncovered a secret world of orgies and S&M parties, where titled men, prominent politicians and prostitutes mixed. The revelations rocked the British establishment to its core and lead to the resignation of the Prime Minister, Harold Macmillan. And seemingly at the centre of it all was one man: Dr Stephen Ward. Stephen Ward was many things to many people. To some he was a successful osteopath to an establishment list of clients, and a part-time artist who had drawn portraits of members of the Royal Family. To others, he was a 'provider of popsies to rich people': a man who knews lots of pretty girls of flexible morals. And finally, when the scandal came crashing down on the government, he was a scapegoat, put on trial and, ultimately, hounded to his death.