Family relieved to know worst at last
THE family of a 79-year-old man found dead after disappearing from home in August say they can now start to move on after months of not knowing his whereabouts.
The body of Gordon Beard was found in woodland off Pheasant Walk in Loggerheads on Sunday.
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FOUND DEAD: Gordon Beard.
The grandfather-of-two was reported missing after failing to return home to nearby Kestrel Drive on August 18 after going out for a walk.
The Army and police carried out extensive searches with dogs and helicopters around Loggerheads and Woore in the days following his disappearance.
Officers combed Burnt Wood near his home, which was one of his favourite haunts, but uncovered no clues.
In September his son David, who lives in Yorkshire, told The Sentinel hopes of finding Mr Beard, who suffered with dementia, were "fading".
On Sunday, a spectator watching Loggerheads FC play Baddeley Green Working Men's Club FC found the body after heading into the woodland to retrieve a ball.
Police were called at 12.30pm and the area was cordoned off.
Florence Beard, Mr Beard's wife of 62 years and his two sons David and Alan have thanked the police, media and community for their assistance during the investigation.
In a statement they said: "Gordon will be sadly missed.
"The news from Sunday, although very distressing, at least ends the waiting and not knowing and allows us some kind of closure.
"I would like to thank everyone who has been involved in the search for our father.
"We have been overwhelmed by the support and kindness shown, particularly from our community, during this difficult time."
Police have confirmed the death is not being treated as suspicious and a post-mortem examination is to take place soon.
Anthony Munday, Secretary of Baddeley Green Working Men's Club FC, was helping officiate Sunday's game.
The 49-year-old of Edge View Close, in Baddeley Green, said: "It all happened when the ball went out and a chap who had been watching the game went in to get it.
"We then heard a shout that a body had been found.
"Our first thought was that someone from the Loggerheads team may have known the person from their community. A few of their side said it was probably the man who had gone missing."
Mr Beard retired in 1993 after a successful career in the mining industry.
He was well respected in the industry and worked as a mining engineer and a manager at Hem Heath Colliery.
Because of his career, he and his family had moved around the country before settling in Loggerheads.
5 Comments
by anon1, Norton
Wednesday, February 10 2010, 10:06AM
“Katie, perhaps to help you understand... The chap may not have been there when that particular location was searched by the three police departments. I don't wish to speculate on these tragic circumstances but please open your eyes to the wider picture and stop looking to blame others for unfortuante events.
My deepest symathies go to the family.”
by john, market drayton
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 7:40PM
“all this business being said about the ball going out of play and the body being found is not correct. the spectator had his dog with him who got agitated and started to growl and although on a lead was trying to run in the direction of it. when the man looked over he saw in the bushes/undergrowth somthing and went to investigate and saw the walkign stick and the remains. although not far from the truth it was the dog who discovered the body. But all the time he was missing the police couldnt find him, they had helicopters with heat seaking options and everything. sympathy to the family it should not takn this long.”
by HAYLEY, Stoke
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 7:12PM
“I think that Iit is very unfair to blame the police (as usual) when something goes wrong etc. When is somebody going to commend the police for the good work that they do?”
by Katie, Loggerheads
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 4:07PM
“I don't understand how three Police departments including dogs, soldiers and helicopters could not find this poor man sooner than a unsuspecting member of the public did.
Why on earth can an untrained football spectator find a body before the police when this poor gent was found within metres of his home?!”
by Mark Walker, Stafordshire
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 3:02PM
“Our team of trained volunteers extend their deepest sympathy to Mrs Beard and her family and hope that they can now have a closure to this tragic loss. Staffordshire Search and Rescue Team were deployed at Pipe Gate and Woore by instruction from the Police, where we spent 3 days completing an extensive search of the area as a professional search team. We would also like to thank the people of these villages for their cooperation while we were searching from Pipe Gate up to Bridgemere Hall.”