Claudia Lawrence's mum shares photo album packed with memories ahead of Sunday service

THEY are the kind of sweet, innocent photographs that fill family albums in millions of homes all over the world.

A chubby-faced, dark-haired, brown-eyed baby who grew into a happy-go-lucky schoolgirl, having fun with her big sister and with everything to live for.

But this family album has had a sad and mysterious ending. The images of happiness have turned to into a living nightmare. For the little girl in the pictures is Claudia Lawrence, a chef at the University of York, who went missing, aged 35, on March 18, 2009, and has not been seen since.

As the investigation into Claudia’s disappearance goes on and on, her mother Joan is determined to keep the case in the public spotlight in the hope that someone, somewhere, comes forward with a clue about what happened.

Joan, the Mayor of Malton, in North Yorkshire, was born and bred in Darlington. She and Claudia’s father, Peter, were married at All Saints Church in Ravensdale Road, and she has always felt a natural affinity with her home town.

She frequently visits friends and former work colleagues from the old telephone exchange in Darlington and cherishes the support she receives from the County Durham community.

The Press's sister paper, The Northern Echo, has helped organise “A Service For Claudia” at All Saints Church in the town at 4pm on Sunday.

The service, led by the Rev David Railton, will include some of Claudia’s favourite music, interspersed with hymns and prayers. Pictures from the family album will be projected in the church and Joan will speak from the pulpit.

Professional singer Hayley McKay, who is from Hurworth-on-Tees, near Darlington, will perform “Songbird” in recognition of Claudia's love of nature.

Peter Barron, The Northern Echo's editor, will read a message from The Archbishop of York, Dr John Sentamu, who has been a great source of support to Joan.

Joan said: “It means an awful lot to know that the people of my home town are there for me and supporting me.

“This service is a way of keeping Claudia’s name in the public eye. I think about her every day and I don't want her to just be forgotten.

Share article “It was a lovely idea by The Northern Echo to do this because Christmas is a time when we remember our families – and, in our family, there is a big piece missing.”