Vin Arthey will be at Newcastle Library on Wednesday 23 March to talk about and sign copies of his book The Kremlin's Geordie Spy.
In February 1962, Gary Powers, the American pilot whose U-2 spy plane was shot down over Soviet Union airspace, was released by his Russian captors in exchange for one of their own: KGB Colonel Vilyam Fisher. Colonel Fisher was remarkable, not least because he was born plain Willie Fisher, at number 140 Clara Street, Benwell, in Newcastle-upon-Tyne.
Willie’s revolutionary parents fled Russia in 1901, settling in the north-east, where Willie was brought up to share the family ideology. Leaving England for the newly formed Soviet Union in 1921, Willie began a career as a spy. Narrowly escaping Stalin’s purges, Willie was sent to spy in New York, where he ran the network that included notorious atom spies Julius Rosenberg and Ted Hall.
In 1957 he was arrested and sentenced to 30 years in prison. Five years later, the USSR’s regard for Willie’s talents was proven when they insisted on swapping him for the stricken Powers.
Vin Arthey traces Willie’s story from the most unlikely of beginnings in Newcastle, to Moscow, New York and back again. Now, it may seem like I've told you everything already! But this is a singular and truly absorbing tale and Vin has dedicated much of his life to uncovering the facts in Willie's story. Well worth a visit if you ask me!
Wednesday 23 March
6:30pm — 7:45pm
City Library
Book your free place in advance by phoning 0191 2774100, emailing information@newcastle.gov.uk or ask at any Newcastle Library.
The Kremlin's Geordie Spy is available now, priced £9.99.