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IMPORTANT! Please read. Missing Gransnet member in France

(412 Posts)
whenim64 Wed 30-Oct-13 10:28:11

Carol Sheridan, who we all know well as Greatnan, has gone missing in the French Alps, probably whilst out on one of her frequent mountain walks.

Carol lives in Habere Poche, in the Haute Savoie departemente about 20 miles from Lake Geneva. She is mad keen on hiking alone in the mountains, and will often take off in her car to find a remote mountain pass where she can walk and enjoy the amazing scenery.

On Saturday last, she was seen driving out of her car park by a neighbour, and she has not been sighted since. Police have made enquiries and advised she can be listed as a missing person this morning. Interpol, Wellington, New Zealand police and the French gendarmerie will cooperate in attempts to find Carol. (Her daughter lives in New Zealand)

Her daughter, Fiona Conyers, is coordinating a poster campaign, and local radio stations, the Mairie, people in the village, Commonwealth Office, British Embassy and several others have been notified. GNHQ have a copy of the poster and will try to assist.

Carol's mobile phone was active whilst she was missing, but is now showing 'call failed.' However, signals from it when it was active may help the search.
She drives a black Fiat Panda 4x4 reg: AZ 522 AP. she could be parked on a mountain pass, waiting for help to arrive if she has broken down. The walks she goes on are in very remote areas, but she does occasionally see other walkers and cyclists.

A group of Gransnetters has been busy over the last 36 hours, sharing information and supporting the family. A couple of fluent French speakers have emailed local radio stations, offered to speak to police and to give help with translations of information.

We are aware there are quite a few Gransnetters living in France and the Swiss borders. If you know of any walkers who will be in the French Alps today, please share this with them.

Finally, would you please avoid sending private pm message with your good wishes, as answering them will distract the involved Gransnet members from liaising and offering support to Carol's worried family. I know you lovely Gransnetters will understand, and we'll keep updating as we know more throughout the day.

Many thanks.

LizG Thu 31-Oct-13 22:56:48

Couple of silly ideas: 1. Have the police contacted her bank to see if she has left a paper trail - she is known to enjoy driving but going a long distance would mean fuel; 2. Same goes for flying have airports been checked.

Heather1234 Thu 31-Oct-13 23:01:03

As far as i am aware the police have checked her phone, which has shown to have last been used on Saturday the 26th. They are trying to obtain a warrant so they can search her property and access her computer which will perhaps tell us/them a lot more with regards to e-mails/bank accounts etc....

whenim64 Thu 31-Oct-13 23:01:25

Those issues have been asked early on, Liz. As part of the search schedule for a missing person, they will be investigating banking and travel information, which the family have raised with police, too.

Heather1234 Thu 31-Oct-13 23:02:01

All great ideas by the way! not silly at all! xx

LizG Thu 31-Oct-13 23:23:43

smile to you both

whenim64 Fri 01-Nov-13 00:24:26

Collective Gransnet crossing of fingers for good news in the morning. Night all x

Mamie Fri 01-Nov-13 05:54:36

Not much to report in the French media this morning so far. It still only seems to be on the Alpes TV site and its offshoots as per yesterday. I had hoped that the Dauphiné Libéré would pick it up as most people in France seem to read the regional paper. Let's hope the gendarmes get the publicity moving now.
Bon courage to everyone for today.

Mamie Fri 01-Nov-13 06:38:27

It may also be helpful to know that today is a Bank Holiday in France, Le Toussaint.

whenim64 Fri 01-Nov-13 06:45:09

That's useful to know, Mamie

Mamie Fri 01-Nov-13 07:58:27

Just a thought - is it worth someone contacting The Connexion magazine? It is for English speakers in France.
www.connexionfrance.com
I can't link properly to the Facebook page, but if somebody can?

whenim64 Fri 01-Nov-13 08:13:35

Thanks, Mamie. Will check out their Facebook page.

wannabeagran Fri 01-Nov-13 08:16:24

Hi - I 'know' Carol from another small forum (where she no longer posts very often). I've joined here as there is more traffic re Carol.

I wondering if any one knows if her passport was at the flat or if she had it on her? If she was going to Geneva (maybe to look at laptops?) she would have to have had her passport with her.

My son lives in Haute Savoie (yes, he's well aware & messaging everyone he can) & I know Genva is sometimes where they go to shop.

Also Annemasse (sp) has lots of 'tecchie' type shops.

whenim64 Fri 01-Nov-13 08:24:24

Thanks, wannabe. This has been addressed already.

Yes, possibly Annemasse and Thonon if she wanted to check out a replacement for her laptop. All being checked out by police - if she's nipped up the motorway, she'll be on camera.

Mamie Connexions messaged.

whenim64 Fri 01-Nov-13 08:31:26

I hope you all don't mind a reminder to read back on the thread because there are repeats of questions and suggestions coming up, and it does take time to address them when they've already been looked at a day or so earlier. Wading through posts for significant links and references can slow down the activity supporting the search for Carol. Thanks very much.

Lona Fri 01-Nov-13 08:38:54

m.hulldailymail.co.uk/articles/news/article/20019262

An article in the Hull DM today.

whenim64 Fri 01-Nov-13 08:53:01

Best publicity in UK yet, Lona. Please will everyone share it around? Thanks.

annodomini Fri 01-Nov-13 09:46:27

"wannabe", I have been in and out of Switzerland many times with Carol and we have never had to show our passports because she has a pass on her windscreen giving her permission to go through the checkpoints. However, it's possible that she does carry her passport as a means or identification. I think I remember being taken to task for not carrying mine.

Mamie Fri 01-Nov-13 09:56:38

You should carry your documents all the time in France. Some people don't take the original passport, but the French carry ID card and driving licence all the time in my experience. I think Carol would have carried her documents with her.

Pittcity Fri 01-Nov-13 10:00:52

Is there a # we should use on Facebook and Twitter? If we all use the same one we might get this trending.

LaraGransnet (GNHQ) Fri 01-Nov-13 10:02:16

Good idea Pittcity. #findcarol ?

whenim64 Fri 01-Nov-13 10:03:47

Carol has ID but not her passport with her. I asked whilst I was stopping there.

Elegran Fri 01-Nov-13 10:07:30

Have done a tweet with #findcarol and a link to the Hull newspaper item.

LaraGransnet (GNHQ) Fri 01-Nov-13 10:11:59

Anyone else tweeting the Hull story might want to mention @mailonline in the tweet as well as #findcarol. There's a chance they might pick it up for the national if one of their regionals have and there's enough buzz.

Pittcity Fri 01-Nov-13 10:12:49

#findcarol it is... will get tweeting.

thatbags Fri 01-Nov-13 10:19:15

Good idea. shall do.