UK UK - Sheila Le Grys, 25, North Walsham, Norfolk, 7 Dec 1963

[jessie]

The shelia Legrys who died in Nigeria was my father's 2nd wife her maiden name was white from Norfolk uk

Many welcomes Jonathan, glad to have you join us.

 

[Jonathan Legrys]

Yes, I have mentioned here family rumour that she run away with pilot and very true, pilots do know each other. Maybe not in those years, but nowaydays other pilots could shed any light into this. It sounds like rumour was on Fred's side of family and I think childred did grow up with him. It does not seem there was much if any communication afterword with Sheila's part of family.

I wonder if due to this rumour missing file was not done for her at that time and case was not investigated straight away. Or if they (probably children) started to ask questions only years or decades later. Unfortunately valuable time was lost like in many other cases.

From document in 2nd post in this thread, it is clear that police in their files classified this case as possible homicide. There must have some reason for that.

I wonder which part of UK she was from. I see their wedding was in Edmonton, which points on map somewhere around London. From my brief research it also seem that he had family ties around there and Kensington, London too.

I can't find yet any location for her or her parents.

With regards to 2nd Sheila, 2nd wife - I have seen lots of discussions about Nigeria and different bases around there, including photos from '78 in Warri, on pilot board. Way they describe it, it seems dangerous and corrupt place before and even now. Lots of official paperwork in investigations are done but than papework often disappears. Also lots of bases were attacked by locals who are very angry about their own poverty and their oils being pumped away by rich foreigners. Machette and gun attacks were not uncommon.

Unfortunately I don't believe we could truly know for sure or get any official confirmation what happened to her (2nd Sheila). But there should be some obituary somewhere and also some paperwork if her body was repatriated to UK.

Only source for some extra answers would be again pilot board - to find out if there was a raid or perhaps something else.

Just to mention, I have seen one photo from Warri '78 where there were 3 people and one of them was blond, well, white woman. I had eerie feeling that it could be Sheila (as place and year matched). Most of all other photos were always just men and it seemed women/families did not travel with them at work placements abroad.

My mother was born in Tottenham london. And my brothers and I didn't live with my father we stayed with are aunt mahala my father's sister for a while before going to live with my grandmother my mum's mother. I am Jonathan the youngest son of shelia Legrys who I am still searching for.

 

[Jonathan Legrys]

I do have a very old photo of my mum with her mother and step father.

 

[Elainera]

I do have a very old photo of my mum with her mother and step father.

Welcome Jonathan! So nice you joined us!

Would you like to post the photo?

 

[StarrChance]

The shelia Legrys who died in Nigeria was my father's 2nd wife her maiden name was white from Norfolk uk

Hi, do you know anything about her death, was she buried in Nigeria or returned to England? I can’t find a death certificate for her.

 

[Jennifer le Grys]

His second wife is buried in England

 

[Dwh]

I also saw the Ancestry with the name Shelia White, however when you look at the record it appears a Shelia White married a Le Grys (doesn’t seem to show first name)
There is a Frederick Le Grys public family tree on Ancestry, it has a photo of him. It states that he married Shelia White and she died in Nigeria. Stranger things have happened!
I think we need a marriage certificate to be sure of the second marriage. Life is getting in the way of sleuthing but will continue in a few days.

My Mother is Sheila Adelaide LeGrys 2nd wife. Fred waited until he could legally disolve his first marriage then married my mother.

 

[Dwh]

Hi, do you know anything about her death, was she buried in Nigeria or returned to England? I can’t find a death certificate for her.

My mother was the 2nd Sheila LeGrys and she was buried in England after being kept in Lagos prior to being returned home, this was 5 weeks after she died and came home in a sealed lead coffin, she died from a fatal blow to her head.

 

[jessie]

My mother was the 2nd Sheila LeGrys and she was buried in England after being kept in Lagos prior to being returned home, this was 5 weeks after she died and came home in a sealed lead coffin, she died from a fatal blow to her head.

Welcome Dwh, so glad you have joined us all here.

Do I understand Fred Le Grys was your stepfather then? Did you go to Lagos when they married, or stay in the UK?

 

[Dwh]

Welcome Dwh, so glad you have joined us all here.

Do I understand Fred Le Grys was your stepfather then? Did you go to Lagos when they married, or stay in the UK?

She lived in England when they married i continued to live with my father it was later they went to Warri to live

 

[Elainera]

My mother was the 2nd Sheila LeGrys and she was buried in England after being kept in Lagos prior to being returned home, this was 5 weeks after she died and came home in a sealed lead coffin, she died from a fatal blow to her head.

Welcome Dwh! Thank you for sharing.

If I may ask, was the blow to the head accidental or what happened?

 

[Dwh]

Welcome Dwh! Thank you for sharing.

If I may ask, was the blow to the head accidental or what happened?

The blow was not accidental. I cannot comment on what happened as I only know what the reports said and what the police have told me and it wouldn’t help the search for the 1st Mrs Sheila M LeGrys

 

[Elainera]

The blow was not accidental. I cannot comment on what happened as I only know what the reports said and what the police have told me and it wouldn’t help the search for the 1st Mrs Sheila M LeGrys

Of course, I understand.

I'm very sorry you lost your mother.

 

[Dwh]

Of course, I understand.

I'm very sorry you lost your mother.

Thank you she was murdered in suspicious circumstances

 

[Jennifer le Grys]

Is there any more news on my grandmother? As still looking

 

[KarenUK]

I'd not heard of this case, which is odd as North Walsham is releatively local to me. There are so many twists and turns and confusing information - well done on some excellent research guys!

 

[Jennifer le Grys]

It's been in newspapers at that time I have copies,and in 2012 I think they re opened the case and was in newspaper with the others

 

[Jennifer le Grys]

Karen here is the link off the 2012 paper my grandmother got mentioned in here too.

Norfolk police conduct fresh probe into missing people in county

 

[Jennifer le Grys]

Have you all through off checking if she has changed her name?

I don't know where to start looking for that kind off things. But if you look on 192.com and type Sheila Rickett there is a few.

I got grandmother full name and year and where she is born if you want the details if it helps even more I'm happy to give them private not public

 

[Al Ka]

Have you all through off checking if she has changed her name?

I don't know where to start looking for that kind off things. But if you look on 192.com and type Sheila Rickett there is a few.

I got grandmother full name and year and where she is born if you want the details if it helps even more I'm happy to give them private not public

Dear Jennifer, while this option should be definitely look at, have you personally allowed yourself ever to consider that something entirely else happened to Sheila? Something you do not want to admit to yourself?

While being on this forum for few years myself I have seen numerous cases of missing and also unidentified. As being outsider, and not clouded by strong emotions and turmoil families of missing people goes through, from little facts known about Sheila's case so far, I personally do not believe she ever left her little boys, especially 2 weeks before Christmas. She had no job or money and even if she did runaway, I doubt she would never ever contacted her mum or her children. With his 2nd wife found mysteriously murdered chances are also higher that Sheila met similar fate. There is some reason too that police classified this case as homicide.

I honestly do not want to upset you, but after 56 years of no one hearing or seeing Sheila it should be definitely considered by her loved ones.

Few things I suggest going forward. Other members might add extra thoughts what else to do too.

- Contact Missing People org and get her case finally listed there. Bonus of it is having her in the biggest UK database. They share cases nationwide, do publicity offline and online etc. They support family members going through turmoil and help with many other things too. It would be definitely beneficial and you never know, it might bring up some unexpected tips too.

- Have close family members (sons or their children) to submit DNA, if this was not done yet. It would be good to have both samples from male but also female descendants

- Call NCA (National Crima Agency) UK Missing Person Unit - They are head of Unidentified people cases for whole UK. While local police lead the investigation, cases are submitted to them too as they specialize with identification or matching of unidentified bodies with missing people. While they list cases only from 1966, they can give you pointers where to search for anyone found prior to that.
Link here - UK Missing Persons Unit

- Contact local coroners or medical examiners if there were any remains recovered in those years in the area or where else you could find out information about that. However, bear in mind there is also posibility that her remains were not found yet.

- You have mentioned that Fred has traveled day after they have big fight and Sheila disappeared. Are you able to double check your notes or find out where he travelled to at that time? What city or approximate area or location? For how long? Some searches should be done there too.

- Contact police who are in charge of Sheila's case - ask them Why this is classified as homicide. While they might not reveal much, with case being almost historic by now, they could give you some extra information. Be prepared though that there might be things you would not want to really hear. Check also with them what searches have been done at that time, if any. Was house and garden searched? This is where every case usually start their search. Only after this is ruled out, searches are done elsewhere.

- Their son who is not in touch - have you considered that there might be strong reason why there is no communication with rest of the family? Did he see or hear something, or hear something later over the years which was too traumatic or horrible for him to handle? Does he knows the truth? I suggest close family member should try to contact him again, before it is too late. (Of course there might be entirely different reasons for him not talking to others, but you will not know for sure until you talk to him). I am sure though that his brothers would love to talk to him too.

- One of the most important leads - his last ex wife Helen. I know you are not on good terms, but remember she was with him for quite a few years (how many?). There is quite a big possibility he might have told her something, anything about one or both Sheila's. People tend to share their secrets with spouses at some point in their life. While she might not have talked in past when children were smaller, if approached correctly by someone who is open to all options, you never know. Your family might get answers you are looking for. Remember, you need her, her information. You might consider option of hiring private investigator who is good with communication, just for this task only. Someone impartial, experienced, open to all options, who can talk/ interview her.

- And of course, do keep us updated with any new information you or family members are ok to share with us

All above are just my thoughts and suggestions. We all here just want to help somehow to find Sheila.