CLAUDIA Lawrence has now been missing for seven years, four months and 33 days.The waiting, and the agony, goes on and on for her family.

Her mum Joan was born and bred in Darlington and regularly visits the town from her home in Malton, North Yorkshire, to meet up with friends she's known since working at the old telephone exchange.

During her latest visit, we caught up for a cup of coffee and sat chatting in the sunshine outside the Imperial Express. Despite the nightmare she's having to endure, I don't think I've ever met anyone so positive and always thinking of others.

She makes a point of contacting other mums who've lost loved ones in tragic circumstances and she revealed to me that she'd recently travelled to Batley in West Yorkshire to meet the parents of murdered MP Jo Cox.

Shortly before we met, it had been Joan's 73rd birthday and she was touched by how many cards kind people – many of them strangers – had sent.

"It's lovely to know that people haven't forgotten – it keeps me going," she said.

Naturally, there was one card in particular she prayed would arrive...but the waiting goes on.

IT'S around this time of year that planning for The Northern Echo's annual celebration of grass roots sport, the Local Heroes Awards, begins in earnest.

It's been a privilege to compere the event for 17 years and the 2016 event will take place in a new venue, the Grand Marquee at Wynyard Hall, which I checked out on a lovely summer's day last week.

The awards ceremony is on December 1 so, sadly, we won't have such a nice view of Sir John Hall's magnificent rose garden but it will be a splendid setting nonetheless.

Back home after the Wynyard reconnaissance mission, I found myself watching the television through misty eyes as Bishop Auckland's 16-year-old gymnastics star Amy Tinkler won her bronze medal with a wonderful floor routine at the Olympics.

As a 12-year-old, Amy won the Most Promising New Talent category at the Local Heroes Awards. From that shy little girl, full of potential, she has blossomed into an Olympic medallist, with surely many more honours to come.

It was a joy to watch her success and to see other North-East athletes who have featured at our Local Heroes Awards in the past do their country proud in Rio. Ripon diver Jack Laugher has had a stunning Games, winning a gold and silver. Hartlepool's Savannah Marshall boxed her way to the quarter finals before losing on a controversial split decision. And Paul Drinkall, of Loftus, performed admirably in the table tennis.

Who'll be the future Olympic stars in the Local Heroes spotlight this year? Start thinking about your nominations because I can't wait to find out.

STILL on the subject of the Olympic achievements, it doesn't come any better than six golds for Jason Kenny and four golds for Laura Trott. They get married soon. Imagine how fast their kids are going to go on their trikes.

THE only problem with the Olympics is the time zone, which means having to stay up through the night to watch many of the main events. How can you go to bed when Usain Bolt or Mo Farah are about to make history?

I love the Olympics dearly but I won't be sorry to see the back of them now because I desperately need a rest. Come to think of it, the same goes for having the kids home from university.

IF there was a Local Hero award for services to retailing, Geoffrey Gillow would surely be a strong contender.

Geoffrey celebrates his 100th birthday next month and the shop he founded in Grange Road – trading at the top end of the men's and ladieswear market – marks its 50th anniversary this year.

The business is now run by Geoffrey's son Bill, who's happily on the mend after a difficult time with his health.

Bill told me how a dapper gentleman, in his eighties, had turned up at the shop the other day, wanting to buy a posh suit.

He was very particular about what he wanted and plumped for an expensive mid-grey mohair suit by the famous Irish clothing line Magee. He was also very specific about how many pockets he wanted because he had a number of items he wanted to carry with him.

"Is it for a special occasion?" asked the ever-helpful shop manageress Jane Davison.

"Yes – it's my coffin suit," came the matter-of-fact reply.

The gentleman reappeared a few days later to say he thought the jacket was a bit tight and he might need the next size up.