I completely agree. I honestly believe the answers can be found locally and in what he was doing over the Summer break. He had 6/7 weeks to talk to, meet up, plan with someone.
UK UK - Andrew Gosden, 14, Doncaster, South Yorks, 14 Sept 2007
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sundaaaay
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I agree that the answers are probably more local to Doncaster than London. Its likely someone he knew did something to him, those days he walked a few miles home instead of getting the bus - Was he getting lifts home after spending time with someone? I think the answer lies with someone close to home, possibly part of the "Young, Gifted & Talented Programme” he was part of, a member of school staff, caretaker or neighbour.
sundaaaay
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One of the popular theories was that he went to London to attend a concert but would a shy boy want to go to a concert alone? This is why this theory doesn't add up for me. I think this excerpt from the Vice article about him is the most significant piece of information of all
"...Andrew was too clever," remembers Kevin (His father). "He tended to say little about school, but we remember him coming back from summer school for gifted and talented kids, and he was absolutely enthused about what he had been doing. To be honest, I think Andrew saw school as something you sort of had to do just in order to have choices open to you for adult life."
I think its something to do with someone he met during the summer school.
"...Andrew was too clever," remembers Kevin (His father). "He tended to say little about school, but we remember him coming back from summer school for gifted and talented kids, and he was absolutely enthused about what he had been doing. To be honest, I think Andrew saw school as something you sort of had to do just in order to have choices open to you for adult life."
I think its something to do with someone he met during the summer school.
sundaaaay
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Its seems the focus is on music events because he was wearing a Slipknot t-shirt when he went missing. Anything is possible, but that fashion choice was probably what he wore every day. I think at least someone would have seen him if he had attended a big event.
I am so convinced the person partly responsible for Andrew’s disappearance lies in something to do with the summer school he attended. The people at the school were a new circle of people, that he was fond of.
Its someone who may have worked in or visited Doncaster over the summer but is based in London, while in Doncaster he gave Andrew his address or phone number and told him to visit if he ever wanted.
Andrew knows London well and can navigate to any address easily. Those two days Andrew walked home after school he had stopped in town and visited an internet cafe or payphone arranging to go to London.
Because it was a Friday Andrew went missing, its someone who does not work a typical 9-5, 5 day working week.
I am so convinced the person partly responsible for Andrew’s disappearance lies in something to do with the summer school he attended. The people at the school were a new circle of people, that he was fond of.
Its someone who may have worked in or visited Doncaster over the summer but is based in London, while in Doncaster he gave Andrew his address or phone number and told him to visit if he ever wanted.
Andrew knows London well and can navigate to any address easily. Those two days Andrew walked home after school he had stopped in town and visited an internet cafe or payphone arranging to go to London.
Because it was a Friday Andrew went missing, its someone who does not work a typical 9-5, 5 day working week.
sundaaaay
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The summer school is probably the most significant avenue for investigation.
These type of schools are not a typical school day, the kids probably do all sort of different things, maybe do science experiments or computer coding, and have visitors from different backgrounds explaining different things. The kids were being introduced to lots of different people, they could have also gone on tours to places, volunteers could have been involved.
He had spent part of the summer doing this and he loved it.
These type of schools are not a typical school day, the kids probably do all sort of different things, maybe do science experiments or computer coding, and have visitors from different backgrounds explaining different things. The kids were being introduced to lots of different people, they could have also gone on tours to places, volunteers could have been involved.
He had spent part of the summer doing this and he loved it.
https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/...ge-disappearance-of-a-14-year-old-english-boy
I just noted Andrew took his keys with him. I have not heard that before. To me, that makes any idea of suicide unlikely. You don't need keys if you are not planning to return.
Keys and no PSP charger. If you intended to disappear would you take keys and no charger? The article also suggests the pizza hut sighting might be credible. Money is left in his bedroom. Would someone wanting to disappear put clothes in a washing machine?
You would if you wanted parents to think you came home from school and were off somewhere, maybe. They would say "oh he is around, but just off somewhere."
But if you wanted to disappear why bother. You would not need keys, a washed uniform. You would need the money left in the room. You might forget, but you would want the charger. You would take more than a small bag.
I think Andrew had a specific budget for the trip. But everything points to his returning, sneaking in at night late, and having a day out. That he wanted to go to music concerts makes sense. But there are no sightings reported of him being at the concerts.
It paints a picture of a boy getting bored with the things that once held his interest, and at 14 it is not inconceivable Andrew might have wanted a break from it all. His mood was not unlike that of many 14-year-olds. I remember going to art galleries at 14 for much the same reason. I would bunk off school and travel to London. I just could not bear to be bored at school a moment longer. Perhaps I over-identify but I do remember just feeling I had to do something and London made a good escape,
If Andrew was in the Pizza Hut, then where was that in relation to Kings Cross? It may not show much but might suggest something happened to Andrew on the way to a concert. If he was heading in the direction of a concert where would the Pizza Hut be in relation to where the sort of concert Andrew might have gone to and what time was the concert and what time was he in the Pizza Hut? (If he ever was.) That might give a timeframe or show other places or tube journeys Andrew made? Or as I used to do, realising half the time you can walk to the place you would take the tube to, where might he have walked?
I know it doesn't probably solve anything, but I would like to see this case solved so much. The above is just my opinion or my thoughts after realising Andrew took keys.
I am also wondering about the walking home from school. I did that too about that age and walked about 4 miles home from school. I could lose myself in a world of daydreams and think....There may be nothing in this more than a 14 year old growing restless. Maybe I over identify, but Andrew also looks so like my own similarly gifted son at that age in the photos.
I just noted Andrew took his keys with him. I have not heard that before. To me, that makes any idea of suicide unlikely. You don't need keys if you are not planning to return.
Keys and no PSP charger. If you intended to disappear would you take keys and no charger? The article also suggests the pizza hut sighting might be credible. Money is left in his bedroom. Would someone wanting to disappear put clothes in a washing machine?
You would if you wanted parents to think you came home from school and were off somewhere, maybe. They would say "oh he is around, but just off somewhere."
But if you wanted to disappear why bother. You would not need keys, a washed uniform. You would need the money left in the room. You might forget, but you would want the charger. You would take more than a small bag.
I think Andrew had a specific budget for the trip. But everything points to his returning, sneaking in at night late, and having a day out. That he wanted to go to music concerts makes sense. But there are no sightings reported of him being at the concerts.
It paints a picture of a boy getting bored with the things that once held his interest, and at 14 it is not inconceivable Andrew might have wanted a break from it all. His mood was not unlike that of many 14-year-olds. I remember going to art galleries at 14 for much the same reason. I would bunk off school and travel to London. I just could not bear to be bored at school a moment longer. Perhaps I over-identify but I do remember just feeling I had to do something and London made a good escape,
If Andrew was in the Pizza Hut, then where was that in relation to Kings Cross? It may not show much but might suggest something happened to Andrew on the way to a concert. If he was heading in the direction of a concert where would the Pizza Hut be in relation to where the sort of concert Andrew might have gone to and what time was the concert and what time was he in the Pizza Hut? (If he ever was.) That might give a timeframe or show other places or tube journeys Andrew made? Or as I used to do, realising half the time you can walk to the place you would take the tube to, where might he have walked?
I know it doesn't probably solve anything, but I would like to see this case solved so much. The above is just my opinion or my thoughts after realising Andrew took keys.
I am also wondering about the walking home from school. I did that too about that age and walked about 4 miles home from school. I could lose myself in a world of daydreams and think....There may be nothing in this more than a 14 year old growing restless. Maybe I over identify, but Andrew also looks so like my own similarly gifted son at that age in the photos.
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As regards Summer School, School may have seemed very boring after this. Andrew, like most gifted children seems from what is said, to have tolerated, but not liked school. Teachers are, in my experience not geared up for the gifted. They teach to the common denominator. This makes for a very frustrating and boring day...
This is not always the case. My son was gifted and still popular at school.
What has always struck me however is how little we have heard from those in Andrew's class over the years. Would you keep silent if a kid in your class disappeared? This has always seemed odd to me. Has anyone ever seen a post from Andrew's classmates or someone on the gifted programme?
High school. They take ages 11-18 and although you have classes with your own age, you could easily mix with people in other year groups at breaks and things if you wanted to.
shadowdancer
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I think that the uniform in the wash was to make it look as if he had arrived home from school and then popped out again. He probably thought that this would give him more time before his parents started to worry about where he was.
Elainera
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This is from an article on BBC:
"The family believe the most plausible [sightings] place him at Pizza Hut on Oxford Street on the day he went missing and later in Covent Garden."
'He took the train to London and was never seen again'
So you have the confirmed sighting at King's Cross tube station, then Pizza Hut on Oxford St, and then Covent Garden. You could map these points and see the direction he was moving. (This is all assuming the two sightings were him.) I would do it but I'm no good at mapping.
Hi all. I have been a member here for some time but I rarely post. I do follow many cases diligently though. Andrew's is one of them, which I have followed from the beginning.
My question is (and maybe it has been posted somewhere and I missed it) is this (and yes I am of the belief THAT Andrew may very well be alive): have there ever been any sightings or even talk about Northern Ireland? I am just tossing this out there but could that be where he is?
My question is (and maybe it has been posted somewhere and I missed it) is this (and yes I am of the belief THAT Andrew may very well be alive): have there ever been any sightings or even talk about Northern Ireland? I am just tossing this out there but could that be where he is?
Welcome to Ws emem1138, so glad you decided to post here!
Hmmm, Northern Ireland sounds intriguing, any reason in particular you wonder if Andrew might be there?
And please correct me if I am wrong but he would not need his passport to head over there and although small there is Belfast and like any bigger City the prospect of whaT we call here Off The Books Jobs (cash in hand) may be more available to him. And if he does not have family there than all the more reason--less of an opportunity for family to spot him. I spent time in Northern Ireland pre and post Troubles so I am somewhat familiar with the general lay of the land.
Another thought I have had is, and this goes along the line of cash in hand employment is he could be doing something such as metal scrapping or Dog Walking. I have done both myself (student loans ya know)
Thank you for the warm welcomes
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Here is a photo of a replica t-shirt, the same one Andrew was wearing the day he went missing. It was kindly sent to me by Paul after a social media appeal. Thanks Paul, very much appreciated. Stir any memories anyone?
Is this really the last picture ever taken of Andrew?
Does no-one know where he went or why?
Is it possible that he could be alive and well but simply unrecognised?
He could perhaps still be recognised by his unusually shaped right ear:
These are new age-progressed images of Andrew which we are very grateful for. They are just how we imagine him. Please God they help us in our search to find him.
If alive, he will be 25. He is unlikely to be tall. He will need strong prescription glasses or contact lenses. He always spoke rather quickly and quietly. He was deaf in his left ear, which could make it difficult for him to locate the direction of sounds. And while his appearance may have altered in many ways, perhaps these clues could re-unite our family?
Here is a photo of a replica t-shirt, the same one Andrew was wearing the day he went missing. It was kindly sent to me by Paul after a social media appeal. Thanks Paul, very much appreciated. Stir any memories anyone?
Is this really the last picture ever taken of Andrew?
Does no-one know where he went or why?
Is it possible that he could be alive and well but simply unrecognised?
He could perhaps still be recognised by his unusually shaped right ear:
If alive, he will be 25. He is unlikely to be tall. He will need strong prescription glasses or contact lenses. He always spoke rather quickly and quietly. He was deaf in his left ear, which could make it difficult for him to locate the direction of sounds. And while his appearance may have altered in many ways, perhaps these clues could re-unite our family?
Blog
Here is a photo of a replica t-shirt, the same one Andrew was wearing the day he went missing. It was kindly sent to me by Paul after a social media appeal. Thanks Paul, very much appreciated. Stir any memories anyone?
Is this really the last picture ever taken of Andrew?
Does no-one know where he went or why?
Is it possible that he could be alive and well but simply unrecognised?
He could perhaps still be recognised by his unusually shaped right ear:
These are new age-progressed images of Andrew which we are very grateful for. They are just how we imagine him. Please God they help us in our search to find him.
If alive, he will be 25. He is unlikely to be tall. He will need strong prescription glasses or contact lenses. He always spoke rather quickly and quietly. He was deaf in his left ear, which could make it difficult for him to locate the direction of sounds. And while his appearance may have altered in many ways, perhaps these clues could re-unite our family?
His issues with the ear--the shape more than the deafness--has always been one of the reasons I do not believe he is dead. If he were the ear has been well publicized and of course a total giveaway.
Hair and glasses or lack of can be changed on a daily basis if one chooses to. A pair of prescription sun glasses could throw one off.
Has anyone ever done an age progression photo of Andrew bald or balding? He is young but it can start early, my otherwise very healthy ex began losing his hair around 25.
Or he could shave his head just because.
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Elainera
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If he chose to disappear I think he would wear his hair long enough to cover his ears. He would be aware that his ear is easily recognizable and well publicized. Or he could wear caps or headbands etc, anything to hide the ear. imo
True I believe he would as well.
Another possibility I have wondered about is If he was struggling with his sexuality and took off shoes anyone think he could have found what he believed to be a safe haven---with other struggling teens and young adults. Then... when he was gone for so long it just became more and more difficult to make contact?
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