Great-nephew steps up hunt for missing Brighton OAP Nellie Herriott (From The Argus)

Great-nephew steps up hunt for missing Brighton OAP Nellie Herriott

2:00pm Wednesday 24th October 2012 in News By Anna Roberts, Crime reporter

The great-nephew of missing Nellie Herriott has paid tribute to his “sunny” Auntie Nell on the six-month anniversary of her disappearance.

George Holland has created a tribute website to Miss Herriott, who lived in Brighton and was last seen getting off a bus in Whitehawk Road on Monday, April 23, this year.

Despite a massive search the 96-year-old, who he said was “fiercely independent”, remains missing.

Desperate Yesterday, Mr Holland released new pictures of his beloved great-aunt and said he was desperate to know what had become of her.

But he added his great-aunt would “always be remembered”.

He said: “Auntie Nell will always be remembered as a sunny and extrovert character, who never allowed life to get her down.

“She would gladly talk to anyone, whoever they were, regardless of class, colour or creed. She was a true social democrat in this sense.

“My father, who seldom minced his words, once said of Auntie Nell: ‘What she lacks in height she certainly makes up for with her voice’.

“She had, on numerous occasions, requested that at her funeral she would like ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade’ to be played.

“It is so very sad that we may never get to know what happened to Auntie Nell and therefore may never have the opportunity to say goodbye to her properly.

“Auntie Nell, wherever you are, thank you for all the many cherished memories. You will always be remembered.”

He revealed how Miss Herriott never married by choice but added: “She once had a lover, a married confectionary salesman who died in the ’60s.”

Detective Sergeant Suzy Maclintock said: “We have never given up hope of finding Nellie. Her file remains open and we are willing and ready to investigate any new sightings.

“We really feel for Nellie's family, who still await news of her whereabouts and have not had any closure.”

Sussex Police is urging anyone with information and who has not yet come forward to call 101 quoting serial 1448 of April 25.