I have been the choir director of the Missing People Choir since 2021. The choir members are a lovely, supportive, caring and relaxed group who are always there for each other. I can always feel their response to singing together, it can be moving and emotional as well as uplifting and fun. I’ve learnt a great deal about people, the particular type of grief that comes from having a missing person, as well as the power of music to connect, release emotions and help with wellbeing and mental health.
We reported my mum missing in December 2013 and she remained so until April 2014 when she was found by Nottinghamshire police in the River Trent. After some trial sessions at Missing People Family Days and lots of encouragement from numerous people I finally took the plunge and joined the Missing People Choir in October 2017 (despite lots of worries about my singing ability) and haven't looked back since! Highlights included singing at the annual Missing People carol service at St Martin in the Fields on 3 occasions, singing at the Hanwell Hootie Festival and joining The Vamps on stage at a packed O2 Arena!
My beautiful son Finn has been missing since July 2017 from Cornwall where we live. I joined the Missing People Choir in early 2018 as I thought it would be helpful to meet other people in a similar situation to mine. Since then I have learnt to sing as an alto, & made many friends in the choir. We have performed in some amazing venues over the years in London & other parts of the country. When we are doing a performance I'm always thinking about Finn. It is an important way to raise awareness of him & the many others that are missing, & for the charity Missing People that support us all.
I joined the Missing People Choir after my friend's daughter was missing. Missing People Charity provided good support. Singing with the choir is a great way to raise awareness of the Missing People charity and for people to share their experience of "missing" in a positive and supportive environment.
I’ve been at Missing People for a few years as PA to Jo Youle, the CEO and the Directors. It’s an important organisation with amazing staff and volunteers, helping families to navigate their way through loss with dedication and kindness. I’m privileged to be part of the Choir. I also sing and play in a small ukulele band (not professionally!).
I got involved in the Missing People choir in 2015 to sing Alice Gross’s song, 'Don't Let It Go Away' - Alice’s sister Nina is my goddaughter, and her mother Ros is one of my oldest friends. So it was initially very personal, and it did help me to deal with my feelings about Alice having gone missing and then found murdered. But then I got involved in the broader agenda of promoting the Missing People choir to the extent that I took part in many events including Christmas carol services, family days and Britain's Got Talent. I bonded with people in the choir, loved singing with people and enjoyed providing support to families with people close to them missing.
I joined the MPC to help out a couple of times but found the experience so special I kept wanting to do it again. I feel honoured to sing with these awesome people. Everyone supports each other, and every song has an extra resonance.
I live in a village in Buckinghamshire, having lived for 50 years in Northampton, where Jack was born and always lived. He has been missing since 2012, my Bestie, friend and Son, truly missed every day. I think I must have been going to choir for about 3 years now. I always enjoy it and the excellent company.
I joined the Missing People Choir in 2015 after hearing them rehearsing at the organisation where I work – and then discovering they were looking for some new members to help support the choir. It quickly became a meaningful part of my life to be a part of a purposeful choir and to make some friendships. I have found singing in the choir to be helpful for mental health in general as I have had my ups and downs over the years.
I feel I’ve become more attuned to the subject of ‘missing’ and seen how singing together can provide support and I hope I have been able to help the choir and family members, whether in rehearsals or singing at events for the purpose of the message/awareness (Britain’s Got Talent being a memorable example!).
My name is Mireille, I have taught sociology and criminology in Higher Education for many years. Singing is my absolute passion and I love singing with other people. It is a great honour to sing with the Missing People Choir, they are a wonderful group of people to be with. There is an incredible sensitive, supportive energy that emerges when the Choir sings together, and I feel proud to be given the opportunity to contribute to that.
My partner Bek Stratfield's older son Finn has been missing for over five years. Throughout this time she has received a huge amount of support from Missing People. In turn she has given a huge amount of energy and effort to supporting the charity. Due to this I have become accutely aware of the vital role that the charity plays in supporting missing people and their families, and am keen to be involved in raising awareness and supporting the charity. Also, I'm not a bad musician and love to sing!
I am Australian & have been living in the UK since 2019 with my partner Vince. I have always enjoyed singing & have been a member of many choirs over the years. When my friend Nina was looking for new members to join MPC, I felt it was an opportunity to help out the Missing People Charity to support the families of those that have missing loved ones and to raise awareness of Missing.
My son Lee has been missing since 1988. He was 15, and is now thought to have been murdered, but no evidence of the crime has been found and the alleged murderer, a convicted paedophile, has died. My family have been in limbo since 1988 and have been supported by the charity Missing People. Singing in the original choir since its formation in 2014 has helped me cope with the burden of not knowing what happened to my son.
My daughter, Alice went missing on 28th August 2014. After an extensive search her body was found five weeks later. I was supported at that time by Missing People. Then, I experienced the excruciating pain of ambiguous loss, and since, I have struggled with my grief. In 2015, I was asked if the choir could perform one of Alice’s songs at the Carol service at St Martin in the Fields; I felt enormously proud at their rendition of ‘Don’t Let it Go Away’. I joined the choir in 2016 and have found it a supportive and encouraging environment since. I connect with Alice through music and appreciate the way it pulls people together in the face of immense personal challenges.
I was a volunteer and love being able to help this incredible charity in my own little way. It's not always easy - it’s an emotional journey with people who I feel a strong bond with but I find it very fulfilling.