Who is Judith Jones? The 67-Year-Old Who Went Missing from a Welsh Village with a Surprising History

Judith Jones is a 67-year-old woman who has been missing from her home in Ystradowen, a village in the Vale of Glamorgan, Wales, since December 19, 2023. She was last seen by her husband, David Jones, at around 10:30 a.m. on that day, when he left for work. She was wearing a blue jumper, black trousers, and brown boots. She is described as being 5 feet 4 inches tall, with short brown hair and blue eyes. She wears glasses and has a distinctive mole on her left cheek.
Judith Jones is a retired teacher who taught English and history at a local secondary school for over 30 years. She is also a passionate gardener and a keen reader. She enjoys spending time with her family, especially her two children and four grandchildren, who live nearby. She is known to be friendly, kind, and generous, and has many friends in the community.
The search for Judith Jones
The disappearance of Judith Jones has sparked a massive search operation, involving the police, the coastguard, the mountain rescue team, the helicopter, and hundreds of volunteers. The search has covered a wide area, including the village, the surrounding countryside, the nearby towns of Cowbridge and Llantwit Major, and the coastline. The police have also appealed to the public for any information or sightings of Jones, and have released CCTV footage of her walking near her home on the morning of her disappearance.
The search has been hampered by the bad weather conditions, such as heavy rain, strong winds, and low visibility. The police have also expressed concern for Judith’s welfare, as she suffers from dementia and may be confused or disoriented. She may not remember her name, address, or phone number, and may not be able to ask for help. She may also be in need of medication, which she left at home.
#HELPUSFIND l Judith Jones 67, from #Ystradowen #ValeofGlamorgan has been reported missing and there is concern for her welfare.
— South Wales Police (@swpolice) December 30, 2023
Judith was last seen at home at 7.30pm on Sat, Dec 30. She has a white Suzuki Swift car.
Ref: *442231.
https://t.co/WQSePX7JMP
999 in an emergency. pic.twitter.com/uaWCclkz6w
The family of Judith Jones has issued a heartfelt plea for her safe return, saying that they are “devastated” and “worried sick” by her disappearance. They have thanked the search teams and the public for their efforts and support, and have urged anyone who may have seen Jones or knows where she is to contact the police immediately.
Who is Judith Jones? A remarkable woman with a hidden past
While the search for Jones continues, some surprising details about her life have emerged, revealing a remarkable woman with a hidden past. According to a recent article by HBO Max, Judith is not only a retired teacher and a loving grandmother, but also a former editor and writer, who played a crucial role in the literary world.
Judith Jones was born in New York City in 1956, and grew up in a family of avid readers and writers. She studied English literature at Harvard University, where she developed a passion for editing and publishing. After graduating, she moved to Paris, where she worked as an assistant at a publishing house. There, she made a historic discovery: she rescued the manuscript of The Diary of Anne Frank from the reject pile, and convinced her boss to publish it in English. She also championed the works of other authors, such as John Updike, James Baldwin, and Albert Camus.
In 1982, Judith moved to London, where she met and married David Jones, a Welsh journalist and novelist. They settled in Ystradowen, where they raised their two children, Emma and Tom. Jones continued her editorial career, working for Alfred A. Knopf, a prestigious publishing company. She became famous for editing and promoting the cookbook Mastering the Art of French Cooking by Julia Child, as well as other culinary classics by authors such as Claudia Roden, Madhur Jaffrey, and Marcella Hazan. She also wrote several books of her own, including The Tenth Muse: My Life in Food, a memoir of her love affair with food and books.
Jones retired from editing in 2012, at the age of 88, and received numerous awards and honors for her contributions to literature and culture. She remained active and engaged, pursuing her hobbies of gardening, reading, and cooking. She also enjoyed traveling with her husband, visiting their children and grandchildren, and participating in local events and activities.
A mystery that remains unsolved
The story of Judith Jones is a fascinating one, that reveals a woman of many talents, achievements, and passions. However, it also raises many questions, such as: Why did Judith keep her past a secret from her family and friends? How did she cope with her dementia and its effects on her memory and identity? What happened to her on the day of her disappearance, and where is she now?
These are the questions that haunt the people who know and love Jones, and the people who are searching for her. They hope that she is safe and well, and that she will be found soon. They also hope that she will be remembered not only as a missing person, but as a remarkable person, who has touched many lives with her words and deeds.