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Kate and Gerry McCann attended an
outdoor prayer service in their home
village of Rothley, Leicestershire,
marking the 11th anniversary of Maddie's
disappearance |
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THE PARENTS of Madeleine McCann tonight
joined friends and well wishers to
remember their daughter on the painful
11th anniversary of her disappearance
which they described as “such an unhappy
day.”
Brave Kate and Gerry were warmly
welcomed by their community during a
poignant outdoor prayer service in their
home village of Rothley, Leicestershire |
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Kate and Gerry McCann joined
well-wishers on the 11th
anniversary of Maddie's
disappearance |
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Kate
read a poem called The Contradiction,
with haunting words: “I trace your
steps, I map your face. You’re all I
know and so unknown. I cannot hold you,
yet I do.”
Prayers were led by parish vicar the
Rev. Rob Gladstone and touching messages
of support were read out by school
friends of Maddie’s younger twin
siblings Sean and Amelie, who didn’t
attend.
Eminent heart doctor Gerry, who has just
returned from a hectic work trip to
Scotland, thanked the 70-strong crowd
for turning out.
He said: “It means an awful lot for so
many people to come out on such an
unhappy day - another anniversary. But
it gives us strength and your support
for us is tremendous.” |
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Kate read a heartfelt poem
during the prayer service in
Rothley |
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Kate McCann read out a poem
called The Contradiction |
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Gerry,
49, dressed casually in jeans and grey
sweater, joined locals placing name tags
of symbolic missing and lost people on a
vine tree of hope temporarily placed at
the heart of the village.
Among 28 selected names read out as they
were attached to the branches were
Claudia Lawrence and April Jones, and
Madeleine McCann.
During the 25-minute gathering a
sombre-looking Kate handed out Maddie
bookmarks, with a prayer which the crowd
chanted together.
The former GP, 5O, dressed in jeans and
purple hooded jacket, later hugged
supporters.
The Rev. Gladstone opened the informal
service by saying “It is a very poignant
anniversary. We pray for Madeleine and
encourage Kate and Gerry in faith, hope,
strength, perseverance and courage.” |
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Around 70 people turned out
for the prayer service |
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Kate later hugged supporters
after the service |
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Crowds
of supporters, family, friends and
locals assembled at the war memorial
where a lantern - a beacon of hope -
still shines brightly around the clock
for the world’s most famous missing
child.
Kate and Gerry had earlier told of their
“hope and perseverance” in a posting on
the official Find Madeleine Campaign
website.
Brave Kate and Gerry cling onto a
glimmer of hope that Maddie - who would
now be aged 14 - could still be alive.
The couple have recently been buoyed up
by Scotland Yard’s continuing support to
help find their daughter.
Police have been given an extra £154,000
to keep the search going until the end
of September.
Three-year-old Maddie vanished from a
holiday apartment in Portugal’s Praia da
Luz in May 2007.
She was discovered missing from her bed
in the rented apartment by her horrified
mum shortly after 10pm.
She had been left alone with younger
twin siblings while her parents were
dining in the nearby tapas restaurant
with their seven pals.
Retired head teacher Brian Kennedy -
Maddie’s great uncle - who also lives in
Rothley, said: “It would be lovely to
have a gathering one day which will be a
celebration.” |
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