In the words of the Pet Shop Boys, 'wouldn't normally do this kind of thing', but a good friend of mine in Sheringham has asked to publicise a missing persons appeal to find 17 year old Luke Durbin who disappeared in Ipswich in May. Click HERE for the details. If you're from the media and want to run the story and need more details contact me and I will put you in touch.Missing persons is a phenomenon which fascinates me. The US series WITHOUT A TRACE is required viewing in the Dale household. If ever I was tempted to join the Police (stop laughing at the back!) it would the Missing Persons that I would want to specialise in. I suppose we've all got a bit of the Reggie Perrins in us. But as WITHOUT A TRACE SHOWS, there is usually far more to these cases than meets the eye. It's actually quite rare, I think, for someone to just disappear because they want a change of lifesyle.
Yes, it's a phenomenon that fasincates me as well. I used to pass the Kings Cross Memorial Plaque every day on my way to work and never failed to be affected by the inscription for the 31st victim, "An Unknown Man." They later found out who he was, but he was basically someone who had disappeared completely for decades. I do find it very hard to imagine how such things can happen in this day and age.
ReplyDeleteVery kind of you, Iain, to help your friends out in this way. I'm sure they appreciate it. Hope it all works out for them, and they find him safe and well.
ReplyDeleteYes, quite extraordinary this one; I noticed someone had printed off the web page and posted it up all around Oxford Brookes University yesterday too. Why he would be here I have no idea, but I guess that's what "missing" persons are all about - could be anywhere but where you'd expect them to be.
ReplyDeleteHey, it's your blog and you can do what you want! Picking out good causes has its pitfalls though - it always means some other good cause gets eased out.
ReplyDeleteI would like to put in a word, if I may, for all those Farepak customers who have been screwed by some very evil people. These are ordinary folks who have saved all year to celebrate Christmas; people who do not have credit, old people who have no money and people who just want to raise their modest standard of living during the festive season without borrowing or nicking things.
A fund is being started to help.
Nice one Iain. On the Farepak customers I read that Sainsbury's are going to make up 25% of losses as vouchers - would be great if other companies followed.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for highlighting Luke's disappearance on your site, it has generated a lot of hits already and obviously the more people who see Luke's photo the more chance of finding out what has happened to my son and bringing him home.
ReplyDeleteWith heartfelt thanks
Nicki Durbin (Luke's Mum)
Join all the comments about saying its very sad and saying its great you've done what you've done Ian and hoping that the young guy is found.
ReplyDeleteBy the way I think you are right missing people are a fascinating phenomenen- partly because its so interesting on the level of why someone would want to give up their identity.