Wake to be held in the memory of missing George Smith (From Times Series)

Wake to be held in the memory of missing George Smith

11:25am Wednesday 18th November 2009 in

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THE niece of a missing Barnet father who went missing in august admits his family have “lost hope” of his returning.

Family and friends of George Smith are gathering in Grahame Park this Saturday to hold a wake to remember him.

The 60-year-old disappeared mysteriously from his Finch Close home on August 30 and has not been seen since. A man has now been charged with his murder.

Funds raised at the race night, band and karaoke will go towards supporting his three children aged 11, 14 and 15.

His niece Zahra Smith, told the Times Series: “We've lost hope of him coming back alive with what police have been telling us.

“It's been horrible not knowing what's happened to him. There's no body so we can't even bury him to get closure that way. It's so hard to believe he's been taken from us.

“What we're doing is coming together in a celebration to help raise some money for his young family with Christmas coming up, as they have been left with a massive hole in their lives.”

The popular retired engineer, known as Uncle George to many of his neighbours and friends, lived in Grahame Park for more than a decade before moving to Barnet earlier this year.

Ms Smith continued: “I've got so many fond memories of him, we used to speak very regularly and were really close.

“He loved travelling and could speak many languages fluently. He was a farmer in Africa as a young man and drove through many countries. We all miss him terribly.

“We had planned just a quiet event, but his friends wanted to hold the race night and have a celebration of his life and I think it will be a very fitting way to remember him.”

Anyone who knew George is welcome to attend the night at the Hind and Hart in The Concourse, from 8pm.