In 1988 Russia buried a hero. He was a legend of the KGB. But he was no Russian … ‘The Soviet Union has buried the spy Kim Philby with full military honours.’ The Real Spies Among Friends, BBC news, ITV 2023
Kim Philby belonged to the most notorious spy ring in British history. Young men born to privilege who reached the heart of the British establishment. Then betrayed its greatest secrets. The Cambridge spies deceived their friends. And made a mockery of British intelligence. ibid.
Donald Maclean becomes the second Soviet spy, codenamed Orphan. ibid.
The timebomb – Guy Burgess – is now a Russian spy codename Girl. And the next Soviet recruit would be his recommendation – Anthony Blunt, codenamed Tony. ibid.
Maclean is so successful the Russians give him a new codename – Homer. ibid.
‘The defection causes a firestorm in Britain.’ ibid.
On 30th August 1963 Guy Burgess dies of acute liver failure. He was 52. ibid.
Philby is reunited with Donald Maclean. Then betrays his fellow traitor by sleeping with his wife. ibid.
Four years later Blunt dies of a cancer. Three weeks earlier in Moscow Donald Maclean had succumbed to cancer. And in 1988 after decades of heavy drinking, Kim Philby dies in Moscow. ibid.