Kate McCann's close bond with Everton chairman Bill Kenwright

Kate McCann's close bond with Everton chairman Bill Kenwright: Madeleine McCann's mother makes rare public appearance to attend ex Corrie star's memorial after club rallied behind family when three-year-old vanished in 2007

By Tom Cotterill

Published: 10:04, 19 December 2023 | Updated: 10:06, 19 December 2023

Madeleine McCann's mother was among the mourners paying their final respects at the funeral of Everton chairman Bill Kenwright.

The former Coronation Street star died in October just months after having an operation to remove a cancerous tumour from his liver.

Mourners gathered at Liverpool Cathedral on Monday to mark the 78-year-old's life - including missing Maddie's mother, whose family was supported by the club when the three-year-old vanished 16 years ago.

Kate, 55, was snapped arriving at the service sporting a blue Everton scarf, with another the same colour tucked underneath.

The McCanns have always been fans of The Toffees, with Maddie pictured wearing a club shirt in one of her last known pictures.

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Madeleine McCann's mother's, Kate, made a rare public appearance to honour the life of Everton chairman Bill Kenwright

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Former Toffees chairman Kenwright died aged 78 in October. In 2007, Kenwright supported a campaign to distribute Everton shirts emblazoned with Madeleine's face on them

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One of the last known pictures of Maddie before she vanished in 2007 showed her sporting the Everton football kit

Kate and her husband Gerry appeared close with Mr Kenwright, who had been Everton's chairman for 19 years before his death.

In 2014, the McCanns were pictured alongside the former actor while watching Everton play at their home ground, Goodison Park.

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Three-year-old Maddie vanished in 2007 while holidaying with her family in Praia da Luz, Portugal. In the days after her disappearance, Everton rallied behind the McCanns.

Former captain Philip Neville, who now coaches US team the Portland Timbers, begged for her safe return.

'As a parent it is so hard to imagine the terrible time Madeleine and her family must be going through at the moment,' he said at the time, the Manchester Evening News reported.

'I just want to appeal for Madeleine's safe return. If anybody knows anything at all about the whereabouts of Madeleine, please contact the police.

'My thoughts go out to Madeleine and her family at this extremely distressing time. I, like everyone across the country, just want Madeleine to be back safe in the arms of her parents.

'Everton has fans all over the world and I know that they, along with everyone connected with the football club, are hoping and praying for Madeleine's safe return.

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Kate and her husband Gerry appeared close with Mr Kenwright, who had been Everton's chairman for 19 years before his death. They are pictured in 2014 at Goodison Park.

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Later, the club marked the one-year anniversary of Maddie's disappearance by lighting up the stadium.

The following year, Everton went a step further, launching an international campaign to 're-energise' the search for Maddie.

Travelling to Portugal, the Toffees printed thousands of T-shirts with the message: 'We're Still Looking For You' on them.

The club printed 3,000 of the new shirts in English, with the same number created in Portuguese.

Speaking at the time, the late Mr Kenwright said: 'This is just our way of reminding people - not just in the UK and Portugal but across the globe - that this child is still out there somewhere.

'If we can, perhaps, jog someone's memory or breathe a little fresh life into the hunt for her then it will have been worth it.'

Former club manager David Moyes added at the time: 'Everyone connected with Everton Football Club simply wishes to see Madeleine reunited with her family.'

In May, the McCanns were pictured during a poignant memorial in Rothley, Leicestershire, to mark the 16th anniversary of Maddie's disappearance.

Theatre impresarios Mr Kenwright was diagnosed with cancer in 2015. Earlier this year, he underwent an operation to remove a tumour in his liver.

After spending time in intensive care, he returned home in October and was expected to make a 'lengthy but complete' recovery. But later that month, Everton announced he had died.

Mr Kenwright's partner Jenny Seagrove and daughter Lucy said they were 'devastated' by his death.

They said he died 'peacefully' surrounded by his loved ones after a 'long battle with illness'.

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Kate and her husband Gerry appeared close with Mr Kenwright, who had been Everton's chairman for 19 years before his death. They are pictured in 2014 at Goodison Park.

FAMILY FRIEND Maddie McCann’s mum Kate joins mourners at funeral for late Everton chairman and Coronation Street star Bill Kenwright
Kenwright and the club even launched a massive international campaign to try to help Madeleine's family

Jane Matthews

Published: 18:44, 18 Dec 2023Updated: 19:31, 18 Dec 2023

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Madeleine McCann's mum Kate's rare appearance as mourner at Bill Kenwright's memorial

Kate McCann, mother of missing Madeleine McCann, was spotted at the funeral of Bill Kenwright, a British theatre impresario and film producer, in Liverpool

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Every one who sat by me and all evertonians I know think it stinks
to high Heaven,they all believe Maddie died in the apartment and all say she passed on the Sunday.

Hi.  What do they think happened on Sunday?

Practically all think she was given too much of a sleep inducing drug,
her “parents” found her dead and then started ,with the people who
Were with them,dreaming up a story to save their a#&*,and their 
jobs.

That's what the people I've spoken to think, as well. They haven't changed their minds since day one.

Jimtheblue wrote:Every one who sat by me and all evertonians I know think it stinks
to high Heaven,they all believe Maddie died in the apartment and all say she passed on the Sunday.

Why do you and all evertonians know it stinks - what stinks?

I'm interested to know on what you and fellow evertonians base your knowledge.

Do you belong to an Everton based discussion group, have you been guided somewhere that leads you to form such strong opinions or are your opinions formed on intensive study of the case since May 2007 - or thereafter.

Sorry if I appear brusque but 17 years down the line such passion requires explanation for clarity.

Perhaps you and fellow evertonians have something positive to work on, to take the official investigation forward?

Of particular interest is your emphasis on death by sedation earlier in the week than stipulated - do you doubt the official Portuguese investigation?

There is far more evidence Madeleine died on Thursday 3rd May than there is for her demise on the 29th April.
I'm intrigued as to why so many people are convinced Madeleine died on the Sunday.
A whole stadium of Everton supporters can't be wrong , can they?

There isn't any evidence to suggest Madeleine McCann died on 29th April 2007 - full stop!

What we see is individual interpretation of documentation, official and unofficial, with a very heavy dose of speculation based on .... well nothing really.

I would love to know what the people really think, rather than the more vocal speaking on behalf of the populace. A poll wouldn't suffice because like everything else in this world it's open to manipulation.

Personally I've never been convinced by the sedation theory, domestic accidents are the most common cause of death and injury of children, the younger they are the more vulnerable they are. I think the parents could have easily explained ingestion of a drug or other accident within the confines of their accommodation, by far the easiest way forward compared to false testimony and dragging scores of innocent people into a deception as we have seen - or at least think we've seen.

Whatever, there isn't any evidence to support the theory.

I have been steadfast in my view of what happened also what stinks to high heaven is the cover up by the
establishment(governments,police etc)also we said we think,not know for certain.I have took part in this
forum for a long time under another non de plume and have followed the Maddie cover up since day one.
With all respect Verdi I have my views and you have yours ,who is right I don’t know but my view is as
worthy as yours.

I never said all Evertonians think the same as me I said people
who sat by me and it follows therefore that it was not the whole
stadium Crusader,why don’t people read the written word before
 replying.

Hi Jimtheblue, can you be specific as to why you think Madeline met her demise on 29th May?
Plenty of members on the forum agree with you, but I can't see it myself, I'm in the minority of people who think Madeleine died on the 3rd May. There would have to be too many people who were willing to lie for the Mccann's to make it happen, in my opinion.
Sorry to have misunderstood your post, it was unintentional.

Jimtheblue wrote:Every one who sat by me and all evertonians I know think it stinks
to high Heaven,they all believe Maddie died in the apartment and all say she passed on the Sunday.

I think people did read your words Jimtheblue and took it literally - as you would hope and expect.

Your own words could denote any number ranging from one to one million+.

Thanks for clarifying, it's always interesting to know why members draw particular conclusions through observation.

Jimtheblue wrote:With all respect Verdi I have my views and you have yours ,who is right I don’t know but my view is as
worthy as yours.

I thought there was something familiar about you.

Yes indeed, your views maybe more worthy than mine, what I'm trying to ascertain is what evidence and/or information you base your views.

No one saw the poor girl after Sunday,she was left at home in a 
sports bag in the wardrobe,dead.That pic of her sitting with her
“Father”was a fake I have no doubts about that as I think many 
millions more think the same.

If you read the PJ files, you will discover Madeleine was seen after Sunday.
The pool photo has been verified by photography experts to be real, the date and time on the camera had been changed, if I remember rightly.
In my opinion, I don't think Madeleine was in the wardrobe, Eddie could have been reacting to the contaminated clothes of Kate.
Thank's for replying.

Jimtheblue wrote:No one saw the poor girl after Sunday,she was left at home in a 
sports bag in the wardrobe,dead.That pic of her sitting with her
“Father”was a fake I have no doubts about that as I think many 
millions more think the same.

I say steady on - that's not very nice !

What pic of her sitting with her 'Father' was a fake? There is no way it can be said 'many millions think the same' doubted or not.

Anyone who's had a whiff of a corpse will know it's not something easily forgotten, not only would Eddie the EVRD gone berserk but anyone in the vicinity beforehand would have noticed - what about the cleaner employed to service the apartment block, including the apartment occupied by the family. Don't you think she would have noticed?

This is so macabre, please be mindful of what you say Jimtheblue here on CMOMM and how you say it!

Thank you.

crusader wrote:If you read the PJ files, you will discover Madeleine was seen after Sunday.
The pool photo has been verified by photography experts to be real, the date and time on the camera had been changed, if I remember rightly.
In my opinion, I don't think Madeleine was in the wardrobe, Eddie could have been reacting to the contaminated clothes of Kate.
Thank's for replying.

Even the date and time said to be registered on the camera is doubtful in my view, my unanswered question has always been why the EXIF data was available for the poolside photograph but not any other taken at the Ocean Club - where did it come from, who first posted it up on social media?

Also the infamous 'blue bag' said to have been in the McCann bedroom cupboard at some stage - I think the image posted-up on social media is a fake, it doesn't conform to expected forensic material. I've gone into greater detail about this in the past but gawd knows where it might be. Never forget, a lot of documentation that can be seen is not a direct copy from the PJ files - that includes the extensive translation.

The case has attracted a lot of charlatans over the years, people who feign to have knowledge, for nefarious reasons or just for fun, who show nothing but deceit - Steve 'Stevo' Marsden being one such individual !!!

Think of it in another way, Gerry and Kate McCann are not barbarians - it can't be said with any certainty, who knows how any one person would react under such circumstances but thinking logically if a parent returned to a holiday apartment to find a lifeless child the immediate thought would be to remove the body.

It's nighttime therefore dark, the small plot outside the apartment would suffice pending what to do next, from their time at the resort they would have known roughly what activity to expect after 22:00h, thus be aware of nocturnal movement on foot or wheels.

The apartment wasn't within the Ocean Club secure area, I venture to suggest it wouldn't be too difficult to move a small body undetected. Risky yes but needs must when the devil drives.

This was posted on social media, said to be showing a bag..

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Spot the deliberate mistake..

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