Did a guy called Steve peake climb the tower back in the 70s?

Answer 1

http://www.guardian.co.UK/lifeandstyle/2008/dec/06/embarrassing-parents-stories

• Life & style
• Family

'My own mother grassed me up'

They bring sheep to school, snog the postman and make a fuss about imaginary snipers. They even involve the police in a spot of harmless fun. No one can embarrass us quite like our parents ...

• Interviews by Alice Douglas, Abigail Flanagan and Marged Richards
• The Guardian, Saturday December 6 2008
• Article history

Steve Peake, 50I started to skip school when I was a teenager so I could indulge my passion for climbing. I'd miss the morning bell, hitch to Wales and be off. My mum was not in the least impressed with my waning interest in O-levels, and as for the passion - well, she just saw that as pointless. One night, I mentioned casually that I might solo the Birmingham Post Office tower for a laugh. She didn't pay any attention.

In 1978, building-climbing was pretty rare and was beginning to be used as a political tool, which irritated me. I just wanted to do it for fun. I assumed that if I did it inconspicuously by trying to look like a workman, then I'd get away with it. I might have if it hadn't been for Mum.

I was about a third of the way up when, looking down, I spotted this lone figure. I had a terrible sinking feeling as it hit me that it was my mum, but I tried to switch off and concentrate. As I climbed on I became vaguely aware of a crowd gathering below and of the police and fire brigade being around.

An officer gently pulled me over the top rail, shook my hand and greeted me with the words: "You realise you are in trouble?" I was duly arrested and taken to the police station where my mum, who was visibly rather upset, met me. Finally, she admitted that she was responsible for the police presence. She worked in an office overlooking the tower and, remembering my idle threat, had panicked when she saw someone climbing up it. I was mortified - grassed up by my own mother!