The sister of a schoolgirl who went missing in London nearly 50 years ago has made an emotional appeal to try to discover what happened to her.
Michelle Hooper told how even after so many decades having passed she thinks about her sister Suzanne every single day.
Speaking directly to her sister, if she is still alive, Ms Hooper, 60, stressed that she has not been “forgotten”.
As police issued a cold case appeal seeking to solve the mystery of Suzanne’s disappearance, her sister added: “Our family simply wants the truth and the opportunity to finally understand what happened."
Suzanne Lawrence, then aged 14, and her sister Michelle, 13, left their home in Harold Hill, east London, on 27 July 1979.
They told their mother they would be staying with friends in Dagenham.
Michelle returned home five days later, on 31 July, after the sisters had had an argument.
She told police they had met three boys, aged around 14 to 17, at a fair in Highbury Fields, north London.
The boys took them to a nearby squat but she was unable to locate it when she accompanied officers on a visit to the area.
Police thought at the time that Suzanne, who would now be 61, may have joined a travelling fair.
But enquiries by officers failed to find her.
Over the decades, detectives have never closed the case.
The Met Police's East Area Missing Persons Unit, which has reviewed the case, has now launched a fresh attempt to try to establish what happened to Suzanne.
Ms Hooper is supporting the public appeal.
She said: “If my sister is alive, I want her to know that she has never been forgotten.
“If anyone knows what happened to her, I ask them to do the right thing and speak to the police.
“Our family simply wants the truth and the opportunity to finally understand what happened."
Ms Hooper explained what had happened before Suzanne went missing.
"I was the last member of the family to be with my sister before she disappeared,” she said.
"We left home together and for a period we were both trying to survive away from home.
“Eventually I returned, but Suzanne did not.”
She added: "Many years have passed, but not a day goes by without wondering what happened to her.
“Our mother is now elderly and, like me, has lived for decades without knowing what became of her daughter.
“No family should have to endure such uncertainty for so long.
"If anyone remembers seeing us, helping us, giving us somewhere to stay, or speaking to my sister during those days in the summer of 1979, please come forward.
“Even the smallest piece of information could be important.“
At the time of Suzanne’s disappearance, her mother Pauline, then 38, appealed to her daughter: “Suzanne, just come back home and everything will be okay.”
The mother-of-six added: “Suzanne has never done anything like this before.
“We have not had any arguments.
“I will not be able to stop worrying until she is back safe and sound.”
Timeline
Friday, 27 July 1979 - Suzanne and her sister, Michelle, left Neave Comprehensive School in Harold Hill and caught the bus to Romford train station. They caught the train to central London.
Her sister recalls walking near Arsenal’s then Highbury Stadium. She cannot recall where they stayed.
Saturday, 28 July 1979 - They met a number of boys, aged around 14 to 17, while walking around a fair on Highbury Fields. The boys took them to stay at a squat around 15 minutes’ walk away.
Sunday, 29 July 1979 - Monday, 30 July 1979 - The girls spent two nights at the squat.
Tuesday, 31 July 1979 - Michelle returned to the family home in Leamington Road, Harold Hill, expecting Suzanne to return the following morning.
Wednesday, 1 August 1979 - Suzanne did not return to the family home. Michelle told her mother what had happened.
Thursday, 2 August 1979 - Police were informed that Suzanne was missing.
Police are keeping an open mind over the circumstances of Suzanne's disappearance, including whether she may have come to harm.
Detective Chief Inspector Kam Sodhi, who is leading the Met's investigation, said: “We’re committed to getting answers for Suzanne’s family, even after all these years.
“After they left the family home, Suzanne and her younger sibling are believed to have experienced a brief period of homelessness.
“During that period, we believe that three boys aged approximately 14 to 17 years, believed to be from the Highbury or Islington area, met the sisters and took them to a local squat.
“I believe these individuals may hold vital information about Suzanne's movements after her sister returned home and I would urge them to come forward.
"We are also particularly interested in hearing from anyone who knew the family, attended school with Suzanne, helped either child, or had any contact with them during the summer of 1979. “
DCI Sodhi added: “Relationships and circumstances change over time. Information that may once have seemed insignificant could now be vital to finding answers for her family.
"Someone knows what happened to Suzanne. If you have any information, however small, please contact us.
“I’d also appeal to Suzanne herself, if she is reading this, to get in touch with us.”
Suzanne, who was a pupil at Neave Comprehensive School in Harold Hill, is described as a white girl, with dark brown straight hair, who was around 5’3” to 5’5” in height and of slim build.
She spoke with a local, Essex accent.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police by calling 101, quoting Op Examen and the reference 01/1106320/24.
Information can also be provided anonymously by calling Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
