RELATIVES of a missing Suffolk diver who disappeared off the coast of France are trying to face up to the reality that she may now never be found.Penny Glover, one of the most experienced divers in the UK, has not been seen since she and her diving partner Jacques Filippi took part in a dive off the south coast of France on Monday, November 21.

By David Lennard

RELATIVES of a missing Suffolk diver who disappeared off the coast of France are trying to face up to the reality that she may now never be found.

Penny Glover, one of the most experienced divers in the UK, has not been seen since she and her diving partner Jacques Filippi took part in a dive off the south coast of France on Monday, November 21.

Last week, the official search for Miss Glover was called off.

The 42-year-old diver grew up in the Beccles area and her family still live in the Waveney area.

Her brother-in-law, Jon Denny, of Halesworth, said the family was still trying to come to terms with the tragic event and had to accept that Penny's body may never be recovered.

“It is a difficult time for all of us. My wife Fiona has lost a sister and Penny's parents have lost a daughter,” he said.

Mr and Mrs Denny are preparing to join Penny's parents, Michael and Jenny Glover, in France after Christmas.

“We will try to finalise matters as best we can by working with the French authorities. It is a complicated matter to sort out Penny's estate as her body has not been recovered and French law is different to the law in this country,” said Mr Denny.

The family will attempt to sort out the complicated administration matters as a result of Penny's death as they believe it will help them come to terms with the tragedy.

“The search for the two bodies was called off last week but we have nothing but praise for the efforts of the French authorities,” said Mr Denny.

“At great expense they even used a mini-submarine in the search but unfortunately nothing was found,” he said.

The two divers were lost in deep water between the south coast of France and the island of Porquerolles.

It is not known what went wrong as both divers were highly experienced. It is yet another aspect of Miss Glover's disappearance that they are having to come to terms with - the knowledge that they may never even know how she died or what went so badly wrong.

Miss Glover was a qualified rebreather instructor and one of the British Sub Aqua Club's top divers.

She was brought up at Tofts Monks, near Beccles, and attended the Sir John Leman High School at Beccles.

Two memorial services celebrating her life, one in this country and one in France, are being planned in the New Year.