One of the reasons David wrote this book was because he has never felt that Danny had been portrayed correctly (in the media) for the man he really was and the work and business that he undertook. The media have reported on the murder since the beginning; undertaking sensationalised stories or the submission of inaccurate statements by people who were not there or who thought they might know him.

Danny was a living, breathing, human being and not a myth or so much newspaper print. David wants those who did not know him to have a much better picture and to come away from this book having some idea of who he was.

Daniel John Morgan was born on 3 November 1949 in Singapore, his family roots are in Pontardawe, Wales.

Daniel’s education was undertaken at Croesyceiliog grammar school, Llanfrechfa, Cwmbran in Wales; continuing his education in agricultural college. Daniel spent time working in agriculture on a farm in Denmark whereby he learnt the Danish language. In the late 1970s Daniel returned to the UK in the London area.

Daniel was well spoken with excellent communication skills with focused facial expression and attentive body language. He possessed great empathy and showed kindness to most everyone he knew.

In the 1980s he established a Private Detective Agency called Southern Investigations that was based in Thornton Heath, Surrey. He was a Croydon County Court Certificated Bailiff.

Daniel was a workaholic, a massive rugby fan and had a most wicked sense of humour. Daniel had a tremendous spirit and character. He was always thinking, calculating and equating. He was a showman, entertainer and someone who could ‘work a room’ like you have never seen before.

At the time of his death Daniel had been married to his wife, Iris, for about 10-years and they had two children, a boy and a girl.

There was, however, another side to Daniel. He could be terribly reckless and often thought himself invincible. He took unjustified risks in working situations throwing caution to the wind by not taking into account (in its entirety) what might actually go wrong. He could rub people up the wrong way often by arguing to the point of being assaulted.

On many occasions David stood shoulder to shoulder with Daniel during field operations they knew were getting hectic. They looked out for each other and depended on the other to keep safe. David has often expressed how sorry he wasn’t there for Danny on the night of March 10th 1987.

Daniel Morgan should not just be remembered as the man who ended up with an axe in his face in a car park or the man who became the most expensive unsolved murder victim in the history of the United Kingdom. He deserves better than that.

David has always missed Danny and would have loved to have spent more time with him had he been given the chance. There is no doubt in his mind they were lifelong friends. To David, Daniel was one of the best people that he has ever known in his entire life.

The slideshow to the left of this page depicts photographs of:

1. The front cover of the book.
2. Daniel Morgan.
3. Car Park sign of the Golden Lion in 2018.
4. Garden entry of the Golden Lion in 2018.
5. The venue of the 1987 murder in 2018.
6. The cobblestoned driveway leading to the Golden Lion Car Park in 2018.
7. 53 High Street, Thornton Heath, Surrey – the 1987 offices of Southern Investigations in 2018.
8. The rear entrance to 53 High Street, Thornton Heath, Surrey in 2018.
9. The original site and building (in 1987) of the Victory Public House, Gillette Road, Thornton Heath, Surrey in 2018.
10.The original site and building (in 1987) of the Wilton Arms, High Street, Thornton Heath, Surrey in 2018.
11.The original site and building (in 1987) of the South Norwood Sports and Social Club, Avenue Road, South Norwood in 2018.
12. Memorabilia: a 1986 printed Southern Investigations pocket diary.
13. Memorabilia: the original airline and ferry tickets of the February 1987 vehicle repossession trip to Malta.