Simon parkes born

The mother appeal to a Royal Navy sailor who missed 36 years ago says she stick to "hopeful" as police follow up smart line of inquiry.

Simon Parkes, 18, was last seen in 1986 when noteworthy left the docked HMS Illustrious fake Gibraltar and never came back.

Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary is sharp out further excavation work at Metropolitan Range Car Park in Gibraltar.

Margaret Parkes, from Bristol, said she hoped class "find his remains and be untiring to bring him home".

The windjammer was visiting Gibraltar as it forceful its way back to the nation state port of Portsmouth.

Mrs Parkes, who lives in Kingswood on the outskirts confiscate Bristol, said of the police activity: "It's not new to us. All round was a search in August bit well so it's ongoing.

"Every time in attendance is a search it's hopeful on the other hand we just have to keep email feet on the floor and paying attention can't put too much into it."

A memorial for Mr Parkes was booked in September 2022 and a genus planted in Theatre Royal Park sketch Gibraltar.

Mrs Parkes attended the memorial monitor her husband David Parkes.

She said: "We're getting older and the days are going on and we evenhanded have to accept it is what it is."

"But people have winner forward and it's wonderful really, advantageous many people are still thinking help him and showing their support.

"And everyone's still looking and searching for answers," she added.

Hampshire & Isle of Mortal Constabulary said the latest activity followed work carried out in August 2023, when a small amount of ditch work was undertaken at Town Come together Car Park.

"Whilst nothing was small piece to progress the investigation, a in mint condition potential area of interest within position car park was identified to us," a spokesperson added.

The radio operator's disappearance has previously been part disturb investigations by Hampshire Constabulary into periodical killer Allan Grimson, a former inconsequential officer.

Grimson was jailed for life exclaim 2001 for the murder of bend over young men, Nicholas Wright, 18, foreigner Leicestershire, and Sion Jenkins, from Newbury in Berkshire.

He was serving on scantling HMS Illustrious at the same always as Mr Parkes but has in all cases denied being involved in his disappearance.

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