Archbishop joins search for Claudia

12 April 2012

The Archbishop of York has taken a break from his holiday to help the father of missing chef Claudia Lawrence tour her home city asking people for help to find her.

Dr John Sentamu joined solicitor Peter Lawrence in the centre of York to mark five months since the 35-year-old was last seen.

The two men chatted to shoppers and tourists as they handed out miniature, wallet-sized versions of the posters appealing for help to find Miss Lawrence which can be seen throughout the city.

Standing on the steps of York Minster, Dr Sentamu said: "Five months is a very long time but hope never, ever dies. So my own prayer is that may she be protected, may she not be frightened, may she not be afraid.

"And for Peter and the rest of the family, may you find courage and hope because the rest of us are solidly behind you."

Mr Lawrence said: "It's been five months, certainly for me and no doubt for the rest of the family, of anguish, frustration and fear.

"Anguish, because we've no idea still what happened to Claudia five months ago. Frustration, because despite all the publicity there's been I think we're still no further on with knowing what happened. And fear, fear of the unknown, fear of what may have happened to Claudia."

He said the members of the public he spoke to were very supportive.

Miss Lawrence was last seen near her home in Heworth Road, York, on March 18. She spoke to both her parents on the phone that evening but failed to turn up for work the next day.

One theory about what happened to the 35-year-old is that she could have been attacked or abducted as she walked to her workplace in a kitchen at York University on March 19. Detectives have said they believe Miss Lawrence has probably come to harm.

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