A COURT has granted scientists permission to exhume the body of a Sledmere aristocrat who died nearly 90 years ago from one of the world's deadliest viruses.
Sir Mark Sykes, landowner, politician and diplomat died in France in 1919 of the Spanish Flu, which killed 50 million people worldwide. He was just 39.
Sir Mark Sykes
Professor John Oxford, one of the world's top virologists, believes Sir Mark was buried in a lead coffin which could have preserved the virus.
Historical researchers from the BBC's Inside Out programme tracked down contemporary records of his funeral at Sledmere Church and other archive documents to aid the medical team from St Barts and the Royal London Hospitals.
Experts believe Sir Mark's remains will help them piece together the DNA of the final stages of the pandemic flu, adding to major breakthroughs by American scientists last year.
This knowledge could help prevent a modern pandemic.
Sir Mark was working for the government in the Middle East in the weeks before his death.
He sailed back to the UK from Syria via London, where it is thought he contracted the virus. He died in a Parisian hotel a few days later. He had been tipped as a future Prime Minister and helped draw the national boundaries of the Middle East that still exist today.
Sir Mark's grandchildren had to give their permission for an exhumation to take place.
Christopher Simon Sykes, an author, said: "We all agreed it is a very good thing and it should go ahead. It is rather fascinating that maybe even as a corpse he may be helping others as it were."
The Department for Constitutional Affairs and the Health and Safety Executive will have to vet plans for the exhumation, which has been authorised by a church court covering the Diocese of York.
Professor Oxford: "If we can get samples that will be wonderful for my team and science in general.
"It could help us answer some very important questions.
"We're on the verge of the first influenza pandemic of the 21st century and we think Sir Mark can help us."
Inside Out editor, Ian Cundall, said: "We were glad to put our researchers' skills to such a useful purpose.
"We often investigate incidents that occurred a long time ago but they rarely represent such an immediate potential benefit."
The story will be featured on the Inside Out programme on BBC1 in Yorkshire today at 7.30pm.