Kim Philby

Described as "the best spy the Russians ever had" Kim Philby was part of the Cambridge spy ring of Philby, Burgess and Maclean. He lived at 18 Carlyle Square.

Other high-ranking figures in the intelligence services were also involved but for many years they escaped exposure, if not detection.

Incredibly, Philby was head of an MI6 section set up to combat Communism. His betrayals are said to have cost the lives of many agents in the Eastern Bloc.

When the net began to close in 1962, Philby skipped to Moscow where throughout his exile he continued to follow the cricket and take the Times each day.

He died in 1988, aged 76.