Syreeta was in Liverpool city centre when she realised it was gone

17:00, 04 Aug 2025Updated 18:00, 04 Aug 2025

For the last 12 years, Syreeta Rice, 42, has wore the same chain around her neck everyday in memory of her late husband, Mike. On July 31, 2013, the day before the couple's wedding anniversary, Mike, 34, was playing badminton with his brother when he died suddenly of an undiagnosed heart disease. On a recent visit to Liverpool, Syreeta was heading from The Albert Dock through to the bus station when she realised the chain and rings were gone. Her mum contacted the Liverpool ECHO to widen the search. Pictured, Syreeta and Mike Syreeta Rice and her late husband Mike, who died in 2013(Image: Photo courtesy of Syreeta Rice)

A mum has said she would “do anything” to reunite her “heartbroken” daughter with a piece of jewellery she has cherished for more than a decade. For the last 12 years, Syreeta Rice, 42, has wore the same chain around her neck everyday in memory of her late husband, Mike.

On July 31, 2013, the day before the couple’s wedding anniversary, Mike, 34, was playing badminton with his brother when he died suddenly of an undiagnosed heart disease. The couple had been together for 12 years and had met when Syreeta was in her late teens.

On a recent visit to Liverpool, Syreeta was heading from the Albert Dock through to the bus station when she realised the chain and rings were gone. Panicked, she returned and searched the area, but sadly was not able to find it.

Syreeta’s mum, Glenise Allen, 70, said Mike was “a wonderful man” and a big Everton FC supporter. She contacted the Liverpool ECHO in the hopes the rings and chain could be reunited with her daughter.

Glenise, from Norfolk, told the ECHO: “They were just such a wonderful couple and so in love and so happy. Mike was so lovely.

For the last 12 years, Syreeta Rice, 42, has wore the same chain around her neck everyday in memory of her late husband, Mike. On July 31, 2013, the day before the couple's wedding anniversary, Mike, 34, was playing badminton with his brother when he died suddenly of an undiagnosed heart disease. On a recent visit to Liverpool, Syreeta was heading from The Albert Dock through to the bus station when she realised the chain and rings were gone. Her mum contacted the Liverpool ECHO to widen the search. Pictured, Syreeta and Mike Syreeta Rice and her late husband Mike(Image: Photo courtesy of Syreeta Rice)

“He was just playing badminton with his brother and he just basically fell to the floor and died. It was just such a shock for us all.

“We didn’t know he had a heart disease. We bought a really nice expensive chain for Syreeta and she put both of their wedding rings on it.

“She had his wedding ring and a white gold little band that fits kind of almost his and she’s worn it for 12 years. She’s worn it ever since and she’s just absolutely gutted that she’s lost it.

“She’s got a new partner that’s Liverpudlian and he’s been very supportive. She was visiting his family and friends and they went around lots of places, but she went to the docks and near the bus station she took her jumper off.

For the last 12 years, Syreeta Rice, 42, has wore the same chain around her neck everyday in memory of her late husband, Mike. On July 31, 2013, the day before the couple's wedding anniversary, Mike, 34, was playing badminton with his brother when he died suddenly of an undiagnosed heart disease. On a recent visit to Liverpool, Syreeta was heading from The Albert Dock through to the bus station when she realised the chain and rings were gone. Her mum contacted the Liverpool ECHO to widen the search. Pictured, mum Glenise and SyreetaMum Glenise and Syreeta(Image: Photo courtesy of Glenise Allen)

“Then 10 minutes later, she noticed it was missing and they backtracked and looked for it, but they couldn’t find it. She thinks she lost it between the docks and bus station.

“She’s just twiddles about with it and it brings her a lot of comfort. It’s a reminder of her and Mike when they were married.”

Syreeta has shared photos of the rings and necklace on Facebook in the hope someone in the city may have spotted it, but so far has not been able to locate it. Her mum Glenise contacted the Liverpool ECHO to widen the search and said she would “give up anything” for it to be found.

Last week, July 31, marked the anniversary of Mike’s death and the following day, August 1, the couple’s wedding anniversary and Glenise said it would “mean the world” to them to find the precious jewellery. Glenise said: “They were just such a wonderful couple and we were so happy after all what Syreeta had been through.

“She was very ill when she was 13 and we’re so lucky that she’s here. She had cancer and had chemotherapy for around 18 months and we’re so lucky that she got through it.

For the last 12 years, Syreeta Rice, 42, has wore the same chain around her neck everyday in memory of her late husband, Mike. On July 31, 2013, the day before the couple's wedding anniversary, Mike, 34, was playing badminton with his brother when he died suddenly of an undiagnosed heart disease. On a recent visit to Liverpool, Syreeta was heading from The Albert Dock through to the bus station when she realised the chain and rings were gone. Her mum contacted the Liverpool ECHO to widen the search. Pictured, the lost chainSyreeta has worn the chain and rings for the last 12 years(Image: Photo courtesy of Glenise Allen)

“I stayed with her all the time and we both had treatment together because I had breast cancer the same time she had cancer. We built up a big bond – me and my daughter have always been close.

“After she got through cancer, Mike was brilliant. She was 18 when they met.

“She’s got her English degree and she’s a deputy head now. She’s amazing.

“She’s like a ray of sunshine to people. She is such a lovely, generous, kind girl that she doesn’t deserve this because she’s been through so much.”

For the last 12 years, Syreeta Rice, 42, has wore the same chain around her neck everyday in memory of her late husband, Mike. On July 31, 2013, the day before the couple's wedding anniversary, Mike, 34, was playing badminton with his brother when he died suddenly of an undiagnosed heart disease. On a recent visit to Liverpool, Syreeta was heading from The Albert Dock through to the bus station when she realised the chain and rings were gone. Her mum contacted the Liverpool ECHO to widen the search. Pictured, one of the lost ringsA closer look at one of the missing rings(Image: Photo courtesy of Glenise Allen)

The long chain contains Mike’s titanium ring which has Morse code for “I love you” engraved onto it, as well as Syreeta’s white gold wedding band. It has not been seen since Friday, July 25.

Glenise added: “It means more to her than anything. She said ‘mum, I’d sell my house if I could get it back’.

“I can’t even explain what it would mean to her because I don’t think there’s words that have been invented for it. It would mean everything, the world.”

Images in this article show Syreeta’s lost rings and chain. If you find or have any further information, contact jessica.molyneux@reachplc.com