I just don’t see why Andrew would have any reason to “run away” to see a concert. His dad was quite happy to share his musical interests and accompany him to gigs, evidenced by Mr G taking A to a Muse concert.
In my experience, the vast majority of (decent) parents of tweens and young teens happily take them to all sorts of concerts and events that they themselves might not exactly enjoy, just so their kids can see their favourite bands or idols.
Just seen this photo. I thought this was a distinct possibility this was Andrew, but after a lot of consideration I have come to the conclusion it is probably not. My reasoning is that the "Andrew" figure appears to me to have a band of some kind on their right wrist; a watch or bangle, whereas if you check the CCTV footage Andrew has a watch on his left wrist, and nothing on his right arm.
Great idea though to look through old photos.
Also surprised by the revelation that the GaT programme was the summer before. Not sure why that was not known before. It seemed plausible that the origins for Andrew's disappearance lay there. It is still not impossible. My own son still keeps in touch with an older boy who was a helper on a summer camp he attended several years ago. But a lot less likely.
Regarding Andrew walking home. I have wondered if rather than avoiding bullies or meeting someone, he was timing how long it took him, seeing if anyone at home noticed he was later getting in, how soon before he was missed, in preparation for his outing.
The band could have broken. I had a beloved bracelet break off my wrist in London and it was never seen again. If you had photographed me at the beginning of my journey I would have had it on. Part way through my journey I would not have had it on.
Just read page 15-30. Have to say that youtube footage of young people meeting up in London parks in September 2007 was interesting viewing, was it confirmed that was actually on the very weekend he went missing?
Hello all!
Been on the Claudia Lawrence thread for last 4-5 months but decided to take a break from it.
Saw this was a U.K missing person but didn't recognize the name so clicked on the thread and instantly recognized Andrew from his picture.
His image is on posters dotted around U.K transport hubs and think a few years back it was put on milk cartons so it's been put out there. Covered on TV aswell as already mentioned on this thread (I'm on page 15 atm).
It appears to me given it was a Friday he certainly went away for the weekend. I'd say the bullying option at school could've been a factor but to me would make it more likely he'd bunk off school at the start of the week if it really was getting to him badly.
It's interesting looking at him at XC in a Slipknot short sleeve shirt. My hunch is he wanted to go to a gig playing in London either that night or over the weekend. Can't rememeber from reading that now whether Slipknot were playing but think a few others of that genre were probably playing. Brixton Academy and you've also got 02 academy at Islington which wasn't far and also Koko in Camden which is very walkable from Kings cross.
Plenty of options and I think that's a strong lead as when you go to a gig many people will be dressed in a short sleeved band shirt (dosen't have to be the one playing).
I presume he went to gigs around Doncaster given Leeds and Sheffield are only short 20 minute train trips, did he go mainly with his Dad or other people?
Can only think someone he vaguely knew got in touch offering him tickets/bed for the night or weekend and then things went wrong from there on for whatever reason.
I'm not sure he'd have got in a taxi straight away. Plenty of times I've got off at Kings Cross from a day trip to Cambridge and to get back to Birmingham (where I live) you walk along the Euston road to London Euston station. Between the two is the British Library so for a lad who liked museums that's a place he could've spent an hour or two before meeting up with whoever.
One other thing that's surprised me reading through first 15 pages is lack of info on this family/distant relatives just outside London. No information on what their relationship was like with the Gosden family and did Andrew personally have a way of contacting them.
I doubt it would've been an official form of communication as surely someone in that family would've raised concern at him missing school on the Friday and got in touch with his family (unless Andrew had told him it was a teacher training day and his family had given him the o.k to travel down but I don't see that as being possible).
More likely a discreet form of communication between him and one of the members who had a dark motive. I presume he had a mobile phone given he was 14 and I assume that went missing in his rucksack along with his PSP.
Either that or that weekend he went to the gig, tried to get in and either befriended an individual or group who saw he was a vulnerable young person 200 miles away from home and again things took a dark turn.
Those are just my thoughts but it's a very odd and sad case. I started Uni a week later and graduated over 10 years ago now so it's a very long time ago with very little leads.
Will read the 30 other pages to see if other theories come up but those seem the most logical to me that he met up someone he knew or was promising him gig tickets and something went wrong.
Yes, some attendees of the event published it days later on their respective channels with the date:
Very interesting. Was this a meet up of gamers or other stuff as with his PSP use it's something you could see that would attracted him to London if he knew it was on.
You'd be surprised. I used to think the same until I saw programmes on the subject and some interviews with police officers who specialise in that area a few years ago. It was truly frightening how fast some of these predators can gain the victims trust.
His family claim he wasn't but I believe Andrew was bullied. I went to school in the same time period and a kid that looked like Andrew did, listened to the music he did and was clever would have been target number 1 for bullies. Stopping using the bus is another thing that bullied kids do which adds more weight to that theory.
Kids who are maybe bullied with few friends are prime targets for these people and it's much easier to gain their trust.
One other thing that's surprised me reading through first 15 pages is lack of info on this family/distant relatives just outside London. No information on what their relationship was like with the Gosden family and did Andrew personally have a way of contacting them..
SMB. (snipped by me).
Yes I was thinking the very same thing this week. I was wondering why we never see/hear anything about this 'family' in London thing and I wanted to know more.