THE family of missing Kendal man Roger Bainbridge are holding a thanksgiving serv- ice to pay tribute to his life.

Four months on from his disappearance on the Greek island of Antipaxos, his relatives are still no closer to finding out what happened to him.

But Mr Bainbridge’s son, Iain, said the family felt it was time to mark his life to date.

“Because absolutely noth-ing has been found at this stage, we have to wonder if we are ever going to find out anything else. This presents us with two options – do we act as though he never existed and carry on with our lives, or do we mark his life in some way.

“We can’t have a funeral because we don’t know for certain he’s dead, but we can give thanks for his life so far.”

The service will be at 1pm, on February 10, at Parr Street Church, Kendal, a place of worship Mr Bainbridge often attended.

Tributes will be paid by relatives and friends, and the family have requested that attendees do not wear black as the service is not a funeral.

Iain said: “It’s a surreal experience planning a service which is what dad’s funeral would have been like had a body been found.

“It doesn’t really give us closure, but it will enable us to get back some sense of normality.

“We’re realistic that the chances of dad turning up are very slim, but then until a body’s found there’s always a dim glimmer of hope there may be a far-fetched explanation for what’s happened to him.”

Mr Bainbridge was visit-ing his sister on the island of Paxos at the time of his disappearance, on September 26. He had taken a boat trip to the neighbouring island of Antipaxos, a popular walking destination, and no traces of him have been discovered since.

An extensive search of the island was conducted by both Greek police and volunteers at the time, but Iain believes that, with no new leads, the investigation has been halted.

Mr Bainbridge’s family are still appealing for him to be put on the Interpol list of missing people.

Iain said: “I think there is now an increased sense of resignation that we’re unlikely to get any positive news.

“We just don’t want him to go down as old news because it’s still a very live issue to us.”

Anyone who wishes to make a donation in memory of Mr Bainbridge should do so to Search and Rescue Team in Paxos – the details are available from Iain at Scott Bainbridge Sales & Lettings, Market Place.