“Save The Life Of My Child” - August 1974

The Scottish Journal, Wednesday 14  August 1974

Movie star’s son still missing for

second night in Scottish wilderness

Movie actress Helen Grosvenor (37) cut a small sorry figure yesterday, nothing like her usual exotic ebullient self, as she read out a statement to the press appealing for help in finding her son Christopher, aged 7.

Interrupting the filming schedule for her latest historical bonkbuster ‘Mary, Queen of Scots’, Grosvenor spoke of her deep distress at the failure to find any trace of her son for a second day running. But she remained optimistic that Christopher would be found alive, and dismissed press speculation that he may have been abducted.

On the morning of the 12^th August  Christopher was reported to have taken off for a day trip with his older sister Isabella (14) to Tentsmuir Point, Fife, to spot seals and watch RAF jets practice their manoeuvres just off the coast. At some point in the day, it appears Christopher rebelled about which way his sister wanted him to go and ran off  into the woods. After searching and calling for him for an hour, Isabella ran back across the Tay Bridge to the Chestnuts Hotel in Dundee (where the Grosvenor family are staying during filming) and raised the alarm.

“Chris made the simple mistake of not staying close to his sister and I believe he became disoriented and lost in what is a remote and wild place,” said Grosvenor. “I have been reassured by experts and the authorities that the fine summer weather makes it very likely that Christopher will be found alive and well quite soon.”

“No, this is not a John Paul Getty situation. Christopher has most definitely not been kidnapped and I have not received a ransom note, as reported in some of the newspapers. It’s hurtful and ridiculous to suggest such a thing.”

“As some of you will know, I have a gift of second-sight and can assure you that if Christopher was in any kind of mortal danger, as his mother, I would know. Instead, I am filled with the warm glow optimism that he is doing OK out there and will be found very soon.”

“I appeal to everyone from the local area to please come forward  with any information that might be relevant.”

Ms Grosvenor declined to confirm or deny that she personally was taking part in the search in the coastal woods just south of Tentsmuir Point where Christopher was last seen. Flanked by the chief constable of Tayside Police, as well as senior officers from nearby RAF Leuchars, Grosvenor pointed out that dozens of airmen and police officers were combing the area and that RAF Search and Rescue helicopters had been  scrambled for the second day running.

“Everything that can be done is being done. My powers do not extend to being able locate Christopher’s aura in a specific place, alas. The best thing I can do right now is comfort my daughter who made the silly but understandable mistake of not keeping a close enough eye on her little brother. She is a teenager and teenagers make mistakes. She is not to be blamed for that. She certainly does not deserve to be hounded by photographers, as has been happening. I would ask you member of the press here today to please give her - and please give all of us – the privacy we need in order to cope with this very difficult situation.”

Ms Grosvenor confirmed that filming on ‘Mary Queen of Scots’ has only been suspended and not yet completely cancelled.

Christopher’s father, actor and performance artist Peter Shure is currently in the United States and unavailable for comment.