In 2001, Parkes' disappearance gained renewed interest when it was noted that convicted murderer Allan Grimson also worked on Illustrious at the same time.
Parkes was a radio operator in the Royal Navy and was serving aboard the light aircraft carrier, HMS Illustrious.
[4] Deliberate disappearance or AWOL (absent without leave) were originally suspected, with authorities pressing their emphasis on looking for a person, not a body.
Shipmates later confirmed that Parkes was looking forward to going home for Christmas[4] and that he had also arranged for special dockside passes so that his family could greet him when the ship arrived back in the UK.
[5] In 2003, Hampshire Police flew out to Gibraltar and arranged for new searches to take place which involved cadaver dogs[6] and digging in three areas; around the South Barracks, around Rosia Lane (where the Naval function was held in 1986) and Trafalgar Cemetery.