In July 2019 I wrote an article about a missing person after seeing a poster in Adams’ window on the high street, the article was entitled Missing person – can you help? This is a fascinating story which I updated in Rye News the following month in an article entitled Missing Marion: latest updates.
We have just received further news on this story from Katrina Panter who has been coordinating and collating information to forward onto the Australian authorities and Marion’s daughter Sally.
The poster was placed in Rye as it was believed Marion had visited Rye at some point, and it has now been discovered that she did stay here “in oast house accommodation” where she also said, on a postcard she sent home to Australia, that “she met a Dutch dentist and a lady called Maz”.
In this extraordinary investigation, which has been running for 25 years since Marion’s disappearance, it has now come to light that Marion had a mystery lover, a Belgian national with a history of fleecing women. This man has already given evidence to investigators claiming that he and Marion had a brief affair in the 1960s in Switzerland then resumed their relationship 30 years later in Southport, Australia. He has a history of convictions for fraud and a busy time traveling internationally over the period.
Over the years, the man has used over 30 aliases, including Fernand Nocolas Remakel, which was the surname Marion changed her name to shortly before leaving Australia. He also had an Australian driving licence in this name. Other aliases include Rick Blum, Frederick David De Hedervary and Richard Lloyd Westbury, the name he had on his passport when he returned to Australia in 1997.
An inquest into Marion’s disappearance commenced in July 2021 but was not open to the public, however it is due to resume, next week on February 14, ironically, Valentine’s day.
Two witnesses have given evidence on how they were conned by this man in the 1990s. One went with him on a European trip with a promise of starting a new life together on the French Riviera. They went to Amsterdam and took a ferry to the UK and visited Sussex and Dover. He abandoned her there and took a ferry back to France having in his possession all her important documents including the title deeds to her property. He claimed he was robbed at Lille station and all the documents taken.
The 83 year-old Belgian man is due to take the stand at next weeks inquest at the Byron Bay courthouse. He has already provided statements to the New South Wales police in Australia who are currently offering a $250,000 reward for information which leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for Marion’s disappearance.
This story is being covered by Australia’s 7 News channel. Such is the interest in this case, their podcast, The lady vanishes has now attracted over 9,500,000 fans.
We will of course be reporting further developments in this extraordinary case but if this article prompts any memories, please get in touch via info@ryenews.org.uk.
Image Credits: Nick Forman , Channel 7News, Australia , Channel 7 News, Australia .