Police searching for missing mother Gaynor Lord ‘link in with’ Nicola Bulley detectives and vow to leave ‘no stone unturned’
By Eirian Jane Prosser[1] and Harry Howard[2] and Rory Tingle Home Affairs Correspondent[3] and Nick Craven[4]
Published: 19:00, 13 December 2023 | Updated: 20:19, 13 December 2023
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Police desperately searching for missing mother Gaynor Lord are ‘linking in’ with detectives who worked on the Nicola Bulley case, it was revealed today as officers vowed to leave ‘no stone unturned’ to find the 55-year-old.
Mrs Lord left her work at a department store in Norwich at 2.45pm on Friday before walking around the city centre. The last sighting of her was captured at 4.01pm but she never returned home.
Her disappearance has sparked a huge hunt to find her with police divers being called in and drones being used after her olive-coloured coat was found in the river at Wensum Park shortly after 8pm. Her work shirt, a yellow tank top, two rings, glasses and mobile phone were also discovered nearby.
The distraught family of Mrs Lord, who has three children, have desperately pleaded with the public to contact the police if they know anything that could help return her safely, with the shop worker’s concerned half-brother adding that ‘it is out of character and we just want her home’.
The harrowing case has similarities to that of Ms Bulley, who sparked a high-profile search earlier this year when she dropped off her two daughters at school in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.
Tragically, her body was found in the River Wyre on February 19, about a mile from where she vanished while walking her dog on January 27.
Ms Bulley’s phone and the dog’s harness were discovered nearby. An inquest later concluded she had drowned.
Police working to find Mrs Lord have said the ‘most likely scenario’ is that she entered the water.
When asked about the similarities between the disappearance of Mrs Lord to Ms Bulley, Norwich Policing Commander Superintendent Wes Hornigold told LBC tonight: ‘We will absolutely, and have been, linking in with Lancashire Constabulary to understand any of the lessons learned from that inquiry.
FRIDAY 2.44pm – Gaynor leaves her shift on the Bullards Gin counter in the basement of Jarrolds department store, Norwich, early before she exited via the loading bay on Bedford Street two minutes later
FRIDAY 2.47pm – Gaynor is spotted on CCTV walking along London Street past Cosy Club
‘We’ve already had meetings with the National Crime[5] Agency in terms of understanding any specific skills and knowledge in respect to water searching
‘We’re cognisant of the recent College of Policing report into the Lancashire inquiry, so we’re leaving no stone unturned and making sure we’re doing everything within our power to find Gaynor as quickly as possible.’
Timeline of Gaynor’s movements before going missing on Friday, December 8
2.44pm – Gaynor is working at the Bullards Gin counter in the basement at Jarrold department store – her clothing is clearly visible
2.45-2.46pm – She leaves the store via the loading bay on Bedford Street
2.47pm – Walks onto London Street past Cosy Club
2.48pm – Gaynor makes her way onto Queens Street and walks toward the Cathedral
3.22pm – Gaynor is seen on The Close at the cathedral entrance – shortly before exiting through the archway she puts her coat on
3.23pm – She is seen to walk away from the cathedral on Queens Street – here you can see a clear image of the coat she was wearing
3.49pm – This is the last sighting of Gaynor on CCTV near the Playhouse on St George’s Street
3.53pm – Walks along St Crispins Road towards Pitt Street
4.01pm – Gaynor walks up St Augustines Street – her final movements captured in CCTV before going missing
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It comes as Mrs Lord’s half-brother Allan Weston, 43, who lives in Blackpool, Lancashire, said: ‘We are all very worried. It is out of character and we just want her home.’
Mrs Lord’s husband Clive, 63, a financial adviser, has not commented on the case but a family member of the missing woman criticised internet ghouls for speculating about what may have happened to her.
One outlandish theory being spread on social media sites such as TikTok is that a serial killer is on the loose, with conspiracy theorists claiming the murderer attacked Nicola Bulley before striking in Norwich.
Other conspiracies put forward by the armchair detectives include police ‘covering up the truth’ and a rapist attacking the mother-of-three.
One of Mrs Lord’s loved ones, who asked not to be named, told the Mail: ‘There’s been lots of things being said, like ”Has she run away with anybody?” and things like that.
It’s not very helpful. It’s hard enough as it is.’
When Ms Bulley went missing in January similar conspiracy theories began spreading on social media leading her family to criticse the ‘wildly inaccurate speculation’ online over her death despite the inquest finding no evidence of third-party involvement.
Earlier today Norwich Police released images and footage that show the missing mother smiling as she left her place of work, before she was spotted on camera running down a street in the city centre with her coat in hand.
Specialist deep water police divers from neighbouring Lincolnshire constabulary were pictured searching the water in Wensum Park this afternoon. The teams were equipped with enhanced sonar equipment to search the water.
Supt Hornigold, said earlier as the footage showing Mrs Lord clutching her coat as she jogged down the street: ‘We hope this will help to jog the memory of anyone who may have seen her in the city that afternoon or who may have footage of her journey.
‘We are particularly keen on hearing from anyone who may have seen Gaynor in the cathedral grounds which she enters at 2.50pm and leaves at 3.23pm.
‘It’s not clear where she goes inside the cathedral grounds during this time so we’re keen to hear from anyone who may have seen her there.
‘We are continuing our extensive searches but would appeal to the public to come forward with any information which may help to find Gaynor.
‘In the footage you can clearly see what she was wearing when she went missing.
‘This is a particularly stressful time for her family and specialist officers continue to provide support.’
Witnesses
It comes after a witness said she saw a woman matching Ms Lord’s description in Wensum Park – where her clothes were later found – at around 4pm.
Rosie Richards, who lives locally, said: ‘It’s really upsetting…
I’m just thinking of her friends and family, because she is a sort of similar age to my mum and that would be awful to be going through what they are going through right now.’
Police say the ‘most likely scenario’ is that she entered the water.
The case has similarities to that of Nicola Bulley, who sparked a high-profile search earlier this year when she dropped off her two daughters at school in St Michael’s on Wyre, Lancashire.
Her body was found in the River Wyre on February 19, about a mile from where she vanished while walking her dog on January 27.
Her phone and the dog’s harness were discovered nearby. An inquest in June concluded she accidentally drowned.
Yesterday, Ms Lord’s daughters both reposted several versions of Norfolk Police appeals for information about their mother’s disappearance on Facebook.
Alexandra Lord, 22, wrote above one of them: ‘Please share, if anyone knows anything please do contact the police! We want her home!’
Ms Lord, 55, left her shift in a city centre department store on Friday but never made it home
FRIDAY 2.48pm – Gaynor makes her way onto Queens Street before crossing into Tombland and walking towards Norwich Cathedral
As she walks along the pavement the mother can be seen still holding her coat in her left hand. This CCTV was filmed in Norwich city centre
FRIDAY 3.22pm – Gaynor is seen leaving the Cathedral grounds approximately 30 minutes later.
At 3.49pm she is spotted on CCTV near the Playhouse on St George’s Street before walking along St Crispins Road towards Pitt Street. At 4.01pm she walks up St Augustines Street
This timeline shows what we know so far about how Ms Lord’s disappearance unfolded
Next to another message she wrote: ‘Anything you may know small or large please contact the police!’ Elder sister Charlotte, 24, a fashion entrepreneur, also reposted the police appeals on Facebook.
Wensum Park has been closed to the public since Saturday while specialist teams search on land and in the water.
The huge police search operation in the centre of Norwich involves 10 vehicles, a police drone and two search and rescue RIBS along the River Wensum.
She was last seen heading towards the Anglican Cathedral in the centre of Norwich on Friday before she disappeared.
Later the same day a member of the public discovered her belongings in the city’s Wensum Park, around a mile away from work. She was reported missing after failing to return home.
Norwich Constabulary declared her missing after they identified the items and learned she’d failed to return home from work that evening.
A police spokeswoman added: ‘We won’t be drawn on her state of mind.
We are still trying to establish the facts. But it was completely out of character.’
Norwich policing commander Superintendent Wes Hornigold said: ‘Gaynor left work early and didn’t take her normal route home. We haven’t been able to establish why she left early and her disappearance is out of character, so we are naturally concerned for her welfare.
‘There’s no evidence that Gaynor has come to harm and, while we have a number of enquiries ongoing, given where her clothing was found and other items, there is a real possibility she has entered the water.’
Police crews are seen today searching water in Wensum Park for any sign of Ms Lord, who went missing on Friday
Today police divers are searching the river and using sonar in Norwich’s Wensum Park
Police scour the River Wensum in Wensum Park today after Ms Lord’s disappearance
A police diver is seen in a wet suit with an oxygen tank as the search continues for Ms Lord
Police divers were called in after her coat was found in a river in a nearby park
She was last seen heading towards the cathedral in the centre of Norwich
A witness, Rosie Richards, said she saw a woman matching Ms Lord’s description in the park at around 4pm
Police are trawling through CCTV to try and trace Ms Lord’s movements during a five-hour window before she was officially declared missing by police late on Friday evening.
Mr Hornigold, who said the force was seeking assistance from other constabularies with diving expertise, added: ‘This is clearly a distressing time for her family.
We have specialist officers supporting them and continue to keep them updated on our ongoing work.’
Gaynor married financial advisor Clive Lord, 63, in 2014, and the pair were formerly co-directors of a company called Lord’s Wealth Management Ltd which was closed down in 2021. Mr Lord declined to comment. The couple have lived at several different addresses in Norwich over the past two decades.
Their current home, which they bought in 2005, is in a street where larger properties sell for GBP500,000.
Police revealed that she’d left her work as a retail assistant for spirits distiller Bullard Gin, based at the city’s Jarrolds department store, at 2.45pm, before her shift was due to end at 4pm.
Police divers, assisted by fire crews and the coastguard, scoured the nearby River Wensum yesterday using sonar equipment and said they have to be ‘open to the possibility that Gaynor has entered the water’.
Officers have also used drones and foot searches to look for further clues and said they do not suspect third party involvement.
Ms Lord’s daughters both reposted several versions of Norfolk Police appeals for information about their mother’s disappearance on Facebook. Pictured: Ms Lords’ daughter Alexandra, 22
‘Given the nearby waterways, we do have to be open to the possibility that Gaynor has entered the water and we’ve carried out extensive searches on the river this weekend,’ police said
Police divers, assisted by fire crews and the coastguard, scoured the nearby River Wensum yesterday
Wensum Park in Norwich has been closed to the public since Saturday while specialist teams search on land and in the water
A huge police search is under way for missing Gaynor Lord after she didn’t come home from work
A police drone at Wensum Park searching for Gaynor Lord
Officers have also used drones and foot searches to search for further clues
Police said the park would remain closed as they hunt for further information about Gaynor’s whereabouts
Police divers have used sonar equipment to examine the water
A spokesperson for the force said the park would remain closed as they hunt for further information about Gaynor’s whereabouts.
Superintendent Wes Hornigold earlier said: ‘We’re doing everything we can to find Gaynor and based on what we’ve found in the park, this remains our focus for the searches.
‘Clearly, given the nearby waterways, we do have to be open to the possibility that Gaynor has entered the water and we’ve carried out extensive searches on the river this weekend.
‘Naturally, our focus will now start to move to underwater searches and we’re seeking help from specialist teams to help with this complex task.
‘Our priority is to find Gaynor and the park will remain closed while these searches continue.
We’d ask the local community to bear with us while this takes place.
‘This is clearly a distressing time for her family and we continue to keep them updated of ongoing work in this case.’
Ms Lord, who has blonde shoulder-length hair in a bob, is described as white and 5ft 6 inches.
Wensum Park was opened in 1925 and has a children’s paddling pool, a playground and a pavilion.
A labyrinth was installed in the centre as part of the city’s millennium celebrations.
Anyone with information or who knows of her whereabouts should contact Norfolk Police on 101 quoting incident number 427 of December 8, 2023.
References
- ^ Eirian Jane Prosser (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Harry Howard (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Rory Tingle Home Affairs Correspondent (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Nick Craven (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Crime (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Crime (www.dailymail.co.uk)
- ^ Nicola Bulley (www.dailymail.co.uk)