ON the two-year anniversary of a Dalmuir man’s disappearance, his twin brother is ready to take the next step towards closure.

Stuart Clark disappeared on January 17, 2016, and his brother Iain is now preparing to sell his flat to bring an end to the holding pattern for the family.

Iain has kept Stuart’s most precious belongings – including his teddy bear – in case he did ever return. But after two years without his medication, his bank account untouched, Iain knows that’s not going to happen.

“Of course I want to find him and give him a proper burial,” Iain told the Post, “but also for closure. We have kept his clothes and his really precious belongings.

“The closure is very close. His flat has been cleared. I think the selling of the flat will be the hard thing – it will stop some hassles, but from an emotional perspective, that will be a big step to get closure.

“Of course, we still don’t know. I have Stuart’s photograph on the side of the fridge and every day I look at it. But even in my heart, never mind my head, I know he is not coming back.”

Iain, of Benbow Road, spoke to Stuart 10 minutes before he went missing two years ago. He was about to have lunch with a friend in Parkhall, who still struggles with his disappearance.

Stuart moved to London in his 20s and, through a partner, joined an interior design firm.

He had no training, but he picked up the trade and went to work in North America, Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and elsewhere, even designing for a luxury yacht in Monte Carlo.

But Stuart also lost two partners to illness, having nursed them both, and took the death of his mother very hard. He had returned to Scotland, was a carer to his mother before she was hospitalised, and worked for the charity Alzheimer Scotland.

But Stuart himself went into hospital and missed her funeral, and then went into a deep depression.

The case remains active for police, but despite extensive work, the last sighting of Stuart was of him entering the common close in Burns Street around 12.30pm that Sunday afternoon.

Iain and Stuart would have celebrated their 60th birthday together in August 2016 as they always did. But like that date, Iain said he was trying not to focus on the anniversary of the disappearance.

He added: “I still get people asking about Stuart and the community has been very supportive.

“I’m just trying to convince myself it’s just a date.”

Police also renewed their appeal today. 

Stuart is described as white, around 6ft 2 inches tall, of medium build, with ginger hair and a beard. He wears glasses and has a distinctive walk. When he was last seen he was wearing a dark coloured waterproof jacket and was carrying a black and grey rucksack.

Inspector David Quinn, from Clydebank police station, said: “Extensive enquiries have been carried out to trace Stuart, however despite of our efforts and the assistance of specialist departments, he is still missing two years on.

“I would like to take this opportunity to stress that this is very much still an open investigation and we would welcome any information which could lead to us finding Stuart and providing answers for his friends and family.

“Anyone with information is asked to contact Clydebank Police Station via 101, quoting incident number 1492.”