THE mother of missing Malton chef Claudia Lawrence is "stunned" that a year has passed since her daughter disappeared.
And she said it was all the more poignant for her that this past week has see three painful anniversaries – that of her disappearance, Claudia's birthday and Mothering Sunday, the day when mothers and daughters are expected to be together.
In an e
xclusive interview with the Malton & Pickering Mercury, Joan Lawrence, of Norton, said: ''I find it hard to believe we are a year down the line from the date which will be in my mind for the rest of my life.
''I can't begin to describe the feelings that went through my mind when we received the call that Claudia had disappeared. I was numb at first, stunned, this sort of thing happens to other people.
''You don't expect it to happen to you and your family."
Mrs Lawrence has turned to her "wonderful" daughter, Ali Sims, and two grandsons to mark the "painful" landmarks and will do so once again on Friday, the 12-month anniversary.
Both will appear on GMTV tomorrow morning to speak about their traumatic year and to appeal for help from the public.
She will tell millions of viewers about how each day continues to be a struggle for herself and her family.
''March 19 is a year since Claudia disappeared,'' said Mrs Lawrence, the deputy mayor of Malton.
"How will I feel next week? I don't know.
''I can't describe how much I miss Claudia.
"I keep going every day, there is always something that needs doing. The support from family, friends and local people is wonderful, it's a huge comfort to me and I am so grateful.
''The pain never goes away, the emptiness inside me.
''There are reminders all over my flat, presents, notes, cards, photographs. Many is the time I come across something by accident and stop and shed a tear.
''I have now to find a way forward once these painful anniversaries are past. It must be kept in the public eye and I shall do my best to do that. We can't let people forget her, someone, somewhere knows something."
Claudia, 36, went missing from her home in Heworth, York. She was last seen on March 18 and failed to turn up for her early-morning shift at Goodricke College the next day.
Her disappearance sparked one of the biggest police investigations in North Yorkshire Police's history which has seen detectives quiz thousands of potential witnesses at home and abroad.
But their investigation came under fire from TV journalist Donal McIntrye in a national newspaper on Sunday.
He raised questions about the police investigation and claimed it took officers nine months to contact drivers who used a Shell garage on Claudia's route to the University of York and they had failed to make a full inventory of the contents of her house until a few weeks ago.
Mr McIntrye also claimed that Claudia did not reply to a text message sent to her at 9.12pm only hours after she was last seen, despite being a frequent texter.
Martin Dales, the friend of and spokesman for Peter Lawrence, Claudia's father, said Peter would welcome a "fresh look" at the investigation and to hear answers to the questions posed by Mr McIntyre.
"A year like this is a long time and it would be good just to see what someone else makes of it," said Mr Dales. "I think it's quite refreshing to have new people asking new questions."
Mr Lawrence also plans to appear on live television on the BBC's
Breakfast show and later on ITV's This Morning tomorrow followed by regional interviews.
A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "This coming Thursday is the first anniversary of when of when Claudia Lawrence was last seen alive.
"Both the police and her loved ones will be using this sad occasion to keep Claudia at the forefront of the public's mind in the hope that someone, somewhere, will come forward with information that could help to explain her disappearance.
''The police will also give an update on the intensive investigation. In the meantime, we will not be commenting on speculation."
