Madeleine McCann: 16th Anniversary

It all seems a bit odd to me, Messrs McCann never do or say anything without reason.

Why .... why now !?!

Perhaps they think Amelie will prompt people to send more money, in an envelope?

By Tracey Kandohla

Published: 12:55, 4 May 2023 | Updated: 15:08, 4 May 2023

Kate McCann's best friend was at her side last night as Madeleine McCann's family poignantly marked the 16th anniversary of her disappearance.

Fiona Payne, 50, who was one of the seven friends with the McCanns on the night Maddie vanished, has often been described as Kate's 'rock' over the years.

Both doctors, the best friends, who were nicknamed 'Charlie's Angels' by a colleague at the hospital where they worked together, bear an uncanny likeness with their long blonde hair and both wearing reading glasses now.

During Wednesday evening's gathering to remember Madeleine in Rothley, Leicestershire, Fiona and Kate chatted together alone and with other well-wishers.

Fiona read a moving poem 'Hope is the thing with feathers' by Emily Dickinson.


Fiona Payne, 50, read a moving poem 'Hope is the thing with feathers' by Emily Dickinson


Kate and Gerry McCann with their daughter Amelie at the prayer service in the village of Rothley to mark the 16th anniversary of the disappearance of their daughter Madeleine

Dressed in a sky-blue shirt, causal beige trousers and trainers with a long dark coat, she took to the front of the 70-strong crowd to recite the touching words.

She later shared a warm embrace with Kate.

Kate, 54, has previously said of her rock Fiona, a mother-of-two: 'She has remained such a wonderful support. Her support is very important to me.'

And it was Fiona, who has moved to neighbouring Rutland from Kate and husband Gerry's home county, who consoled her remotely during lockdown when convicted rapist Christian Brueckner was first made a suspect nearly three years ago.

She urged former GP turned medical worker Kate: 'Don't give up hope now' as German police insisted Madeleine was dead.

A local villager at the outdoor service said: 'It was so nice to see Kate and Fiona standing side by side again, talking and hugging.

'Fiona has been a tower of strength and comfort to Kate over the years and has always been a shoulder to cry on.'

Kate first met Fiona in a staff coffee room at Leicester General Intensive Care Unit in December 2000 when they were both working as anaesthetic registrars.

Kate previously recalled: 'We became such great mates that one of our consultant colleagues rather cheekily used to refer to us as Charlie's Angels.'

When three-year-old Madeleine went missing from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, in May 2007, it was Fiona who helped comfort her devastated friend, and has been there for her ever since.

Kate had said: 'We talked and cried and held onto each other. It was like a horror movie that refused to end.'

Fiona and her husband David, were among seven friends of Kate and heart doctor Gerry who had been dining together in a nearby tapas restaurant that night.

The seven friends - three couples and the mother of one of the mums – had joined the McCanns in Praia da Luz for a joint holiday and the nine adults along with their eight children.

The group of adults were dubbed the Tapas 7 as they were dining with Gerry and Kate at the hotel complex's tapas restaurant on the night Madeleine went missing.

Each of them willingly co-operated with the Portuguese and British police investigation and none were ever made 'arguido' - persons of interest - in the enquiries.

As well as Fiona and her husband Dr David Payne, there was Fiona's mother Dianne Webster, Rachael Oldfield, a recruitment consultant, and her husband Matthew and Jane Tanner and her husband Dr Russell O'Brien.

All of the couples remain living near to the McCanns in Leicestershire besides Mrs Tanner and her husband who have relocated together to Exeter, Devon.

It was Mrs Tanner who provided what was believed to have been crucial evidence by saying she saw a man carry a child from the McCann's apartment at 9.15pm - 45 minutes before Kate raised the alarm. She claimed to have seen a child in floral patterned pyjama bottoms being carried in the arms of a white, dark-haired man who did not look like a tourist.

Her testimony - known as the Tanner Sighting - was later disregarded when a British man stepped forward to say it was him carrying his daughter from the night creche - her PJs matched the ones Jane had described to the police.

Fiona, for her part as Kate's closest friend was hugely supportive of her in the days and weeks after Madeleine vanished.

When the McCanns were made suspects in the case, Fiona told a reporter: 'These accusations are absolutely outrageous. We are reeling with shock over this. Kate and Gerry are totally innocent.'

Fiona has turned up at every anniversary gathering to support Kate and pray with her - the public event was not held during two Covid-restricted years of 2020 and 2021.

On the milestone 10th anniversary service held at St Mary and St John Church in Rothley she took centre stage, remaining composed as she recited a poem with the words: 'Each branch that it grows be our hope and prayers, and every bloom bear a colour for the ones that we miss.'

When Kate and Gerry missed one gathering due to family commitment in Liverpool, it was Fiona who stepped into to address well-wishers and supporters.

Kate and Gerry - their family and close circle of friends - hold onto a glimmer of hope that Madeleine could still be alive.

She would now be aged 19, nearly 20.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12046099/Kate-McCanns-best-friend-family-mark-16th-anniversary-Madeleines-disappearance.html

“Hope” is the thing with feathers

By Emily Dickinson - originally posted 1891

“Hope” is the thing with feathers -
That perches in the soul -
And sings the tune without the words -
And never stops - at all -

And sweetest - in the Gale - is heard -
And sore must be the storm -
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm -

I’ve heard it in the chillest land -
And on the strangest Sea -
Yet - never - in Extremity,
It asked a crumb - of me.

Did Madeleine McCann's Disappearance Change Your Parenting Methods? | Loose Women



5:51 minutes

4th May 2023

This week marks sixteen years since the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. Her parents, Kate and Gerry, have marked the anniversary by thanking well-wishers and stating their daughter is “still missing… still very much missed.” For the first time we heard Madeleine's younger sister Amelie speak too. But, how has Madeleine's disappearance affected parenting methods?

___________________________________________________________

'It felt so safe ...

Parenting methods, before and after - druggies and junkies torturing and killing their babies. Drunk parents driving their children to and from school. Women going on six day benders and leaving babies to starve to death. Single mothers inviting child molesters to live with her children. Then there are decent people who would rather die than do any of those things. Some things never change.

http://www.findmadeleine.com/updates/

Madeleine McCann's younger sister Amelie, 18, speaks publicly for the first time at candle ceremony to mark 16 years since her disappearance, calling it 'a sad occasion'

   This is the first time Amelie McCann has been pictured since she was a child
   Amelie said: 'It's nice that everyone is here together but it's a sad occasion'

By Tracey Kandohla and Natasha Anderson

Published: 22:07, 3 May 2023 | Updated: 09:36, 4 May 2023

Madeleine McCann's younger sister spoke publicly for the first time last night as her family marked the poignant 16th anniversary of the toddler's disappearance.

Maddie vanished from a holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in Portugal in May 2007 when she was just three.

Her sister Amelie, now 18, joined her parents and well-wishers last night at a candle service dedicated to her. She said: 'It's nice that everyone is here together, but it's a sad occasion.'

It was the first time Amelie, who is applying to go to university, has been pictured since she was a toddler - giving a glimpse of what her older sibling may look like as an adult.

The vigil came two weeks after a German court decided not to hear a sex offences case against a man who is a suspect in Madeleine's disappearance.


Madeleine McCann's sister Amelie, 18, (right) lit a candle in her memory as she joined her parents and well-wishers on the poignant 16th anniversary of the toddler's disappearance

Amelie, with her long blonde hair and casually dressed in navy leggings, trainers and cream puffa jacket, was warmly welcomed along with Kate and Gerry by locals and supporters during an informal prayer gathering in their home village of Rothley, Leicestershire.

Her twin brother Sean did not attend.

Kate's close friend Fiona Payne, one of her 'Tapas Seven' pals who was on the fateful holiday in Portugal when Maddie vanished, was among the crowd.

Maddie's parents had been having a tapas meal with friends when Maddie was abducted from their apartment just yards away.

Amelie took her turn to light a candle for Maddie and other missing children at the war memorial, where pictures of her sister adorned the black railing and where a lantern of hope still glows around the clock for her.

Kate, wearing black jeans and a blue jacket, joined in prayers but neither she nor Gerry addressed the crowds.

Repeat:  Amelie, with her long blonde hair and casually dressed in navy leggings, trainers and cream puffa jacket, was warmly welcomed along with Kate and Gerry by locals and supporters during an informal prayer gathering in their home village of Rothley, Leicestershire.

Her twin brother Sean did not attend.

Kate's close friend Fiona Payne, one of her 'Tapas Seven' pals who was on the fateful holiday in Portugal when Maddie vanished, was among the crowd.

Maddie's parents had been having a tapas meal with friends when Maddie was abducted from their apartment just yards away.

Amelie took her turn to light a candle for Maddie and other missing children at the war memorial, where pictures of her sister adorned the black railing and where a lantern of hope still glows around the clock for her.

Kate, wearing black jeans and a blue jacket, joined in prayers but neither she nor Gerry addressed the crowds.

Repeat read: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12043735/Madeleine-McCanns-younger-sister-Amelie-18-speaks-publicly-time-candle-ceremony.html

 Awkward !!!

Missing Madeleine McCann's sister finally breaks silence

This viral story of a missing girl has re-surfaced again and here's why...



The viral story of the kidnapping of Madeleine McCann has us heartbroken. The open case that has been on-going for about 16 years has resurfaced on the internet.

Madeleine McCann went missing from Portugal's Praia da Luz seaside resort on 3 May 2007 when she was three years old. Her story resurfaces annually, but there has been no major progress made in the case.

There have been rumours that one social media user is the missing girl. This has sparked reactions from people all over the internet.

Read More: 'New evidence' in Madeleine McCann case: prosecutor

After 16 years's of silence, Madeleine's sister has finally chosen to speak out on the heart wrenching incident.

At a vigil marking the anniversary, Amelie, now aged 18, said: “It's nice that everyone is here together but it's a sad occasion.”

An informal prayer meeting was attended by about 70 people and took place in the family's home village of Rothley in Leicestershire.

The family shares: “Today marks the 16th anniversary of Madeleine’s abduction. Still missing .. still very much missed. It is hard to find the words to convey how we feel.”



Stacey Norman has been following this story closely, especially since new evidence has been shared.

"I can't even fathom what this must be like for the parents," Stacey shares.

Listen to what Stacey's thoughts and theories on the matter are below:



To further your understanding on the situation, ECR News reports:

Madeleine's disappearance sparked a huge man-hunt and an international media frenzy, with photographs of Maddie plastered across billboards and news bulletins.

Last month, Portuguese authorities joined German prosecutors in declaring a convicted German rapist the prime suspect in her disappearance.

To read more about this developing story, click here.

https://www.ecr.co.za/shows/stacey-jsbu/missing-madeleine-mccann-sister-breaks-silence/