In Miami Beach Florida on the afternoon of the 28th November 1974 John Stonehouse, a former member of the British government, walked down to the water’s edge ... Days later he was reported missing, presumed drowned. Vanishings: The Disappearance of John Stonehouse
Stonehouse concentrated on overseas sales, and quickly took the lead in securing a lucrative Air Defence Contract from Saudi Arabia. ibid.
When he arrived at 10 Downing Street he was shocked to hear he was suspected of being a spy. ibid.
The English Bangladesh Trust Ltd: he [John Stonehouse] also invested heavily himself and spent the next nine months cajoling businesses to provide further backing. But then just as the Bank was about to offer its shares to the general public the Sunday Times published a highly critical article about the way the bank was being established. So he pledged even more money himself. ibid.
The Bangladeshi community in Britain pledged no more than fifteen thousand pounds. ibid.
He decided there was no choice but to disappear. ibid.
John Stonehouse headed to Melbourne in Australia. ibid.