Forever searching for answers, the siblings of murdered schoolboy Allan Graham have made an emotional trip to the spot he was last seen alive.
It has now been more than 53 years since the 11-year-old was found dead in a ditch, 24 hours after going missing from Newcastle’s West End. But who killed him remains a mystery.
Allan’s older brother, Fred Baron, has never given up hope that one day he will find out who was responsible for the mysterious murder.
The 80-year-old, who now lives in Jersey, returned to Tyneside last week to visit family.
And during his trip he met up with two of Allan's other siblings at Gerald Street, in Benwell, where Allan was last seen alive.
Together Fred, his brother Denis and sister Pauline retraced their brother's last known steps as they reflected on the mysterious tragedy that has blighted all their lives.
Fred said: "As soon as I go over towards Benwell it brings it all back. It's always mixed emotions.
"All these questions come into your head, I still find it hard to get my head around it."
Allan, who lived in Gateshead with his mother, Mary Wells, had been spending the weekend with Denis, now 79, and his late wife Moira at their home on Gerald Street when he disappeared.
He made the short walk from the terraced house to a sweet shop at the bottom of the road on the afternoon of Saturday, January 24, 1970, but was never seen alive again.
Allan was found strangled in a water-filled ditch at Callerton Grange Farm, near Ponteland, the next day.
It was thought he had been lured to his death as he walked the 50 yards back to his brother’s house.
Today there is still a shop at the bottom of Gerald Street and Fred said the terraced houses hadn't changed much in appearance, save for some new windows and doors.
While in Benwell Allan's siblings spent some time reflecting on their little brother's tragic death outside Denis' former home and the shop.
"When we sat across the road from the shop you can imagine him coming in and out. I just think 'why him'," said Fred. "I sat there in the car with Denis and Pauline and thought about Allan walking down there. It was emotional."
Northumbria Police detectives have been reviewing Allan’s case since the Chronicle highlighted it as part of an Unsolved Crimes series in 2014 – which prompted a new witness to come forward.
A Northumbria Police spokeswoman said: "Unsolved murders are all subject to periodic reviews and if any new information comes to light about this case, our detectives will make sure that it is fully investigated.
"If you have information that could help detectives with Allan’s case, or any of our unsolved cases, then please call us."
Call Northumbria Police on 101 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.
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