Mum's tears for Jeffrey

Brendan Montague
Thursday December 20, 2001
The Stockport Express

THE tearful mother of missing Jeffrey Hodgson spoke this week of her heartbreak at spending her first Christmas without her needy son.

Beryl Hodgson has found the festive season hard after her
vulnerable son disappeared while on holiday in Ibiza earlier this year, but is determined to keep her fighting spirit.

She welcomed hundreds of guests at the Britannia Hotel in
Stockport last night (Wednesday) as part of the campaign to get Spanish police to continue looking for Jeffrey, 39, pictured right, who has epilepsy and the mental age of an eight-year-old.

The family are still holding out hope that their son, who needs medication and constant care, can be found more than five months after he vanished from an Ibiza hotel.

"It's a difficult time. We've never been apart before," Mrs
Hodgson said. "Everywhere I go I see Christmas trees and decorations and I have to hold back the tears. my grandchildren are looking forward to Christmas but I have to force myself to Put up the cards."

Her son was always excited about Christmas while he was living at home, and with help would write cards for his nearest and dearest.

"He's like a child and can't wait to ~et his presents," Mrs
Hodgson added. "Jeffrey would get up really early and held tear up all the wrapping."

On Thursday of last week the family spoke to the Baroness Amos from the Government's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. She agreed to encourage police in Ibiza to follow up a sighting by a local restaurant owner.

Mrs Hodgson and husband Derek want the Spanish authorities to scour the island during the quiet winter period.
The police have already used helicopters, sea (livers and
trained dogs to find Jeffrey, but the family feel they scaled down the search too soon.

"The Spanish police will only follow up on a clue, but the
island is so quiet now," Mrs Hodgson said.
"There is no possibility of him being able to contact us before Christmas, he has no money and is mentally handicapped. He can't use the telephone.

“He can't find us, we'll have to find him," Mrs Hodgson added.
“We have to go out again we can't give up on Jeffrey. We're
6ping that someone's looking after Jeffrey somewhere."
The family has been bolstered by the flood of greetings and
cards wishing them well in the quest to find their son.
Mrs Hodgson said: "Everyone has been supportive, even
strangers. We're getting lots of cards.

"It is very uplifting to know how many people do care, but it's also very upset.