A father's dream of singing to his long-lost son has blossomed into a remarkable choir that not only offers solace but has actively helped reunite missing people with their families. What began as a small support group in 2014 has since seen its members grace the stage at the O2 Arena and compete in the final of Britain's Got Talent.
A Father's Dream Sparks a Movement
For Peter Boxell, the journey started with a powerful dream. His son, Lee, had been missing since 1988, aged just 15. In 2013, Mr Boxell dreamt he was singing a song to Lee. He mentioned this to a worker from the charity Missing People, and within a day, he was in a recording studio. By December that year, he performed Where Is Lee? at St Martin-in-the-Fields church in London.
"I felt as though I was singing to my son," Mr Boxell told The Independent. "It was really cathartic and really uplifting, and I actually got a standing ovation." This poignant moment inspired music producer James Hawkins and the charity's Clare Cook to formally establish the Missing People Choir for those with missing loved ones.
From Local Support to National Spotlight
The choir, now over 20 members strong, aims to raise awareness of the devastating issue of missing people while providing mutual support. Their profile skyrocketed when they reached the final of ITV's Britain's Got Talent in 2017. Incredibly, their television appearance led directly to two missing people seeing their faces broadcast and returning home to their families.
The group also performed with The Vamps at London's O2 Arena. For Mr Boxell, a standout memory was performing at the Cornbury Music Festival in Oxfordshire. "The whole field was filled with thousands of people, mostly families, all waving and cheering," he recalled.
A Community Bound by Loss and Hope
The choir meets monthly to rehearse and perform, offering a vital respite from grief. Their repertoire includes original songs and others with resonant lyrics. Bek Stratfield, who joined after her 17-year-old son Finn went missing in Cornwall in 2017, finds strength in the collective. "There's an empathy and compassion within the choir," she said. When nervous, she focuses on why she sings: for Finn.
Mr Boxell echoes the sentiment of community. "It helps us to come together, and we get a degree of comfort out of that... It's so uplifting for everybody," he explained. The shared experience creates a unique bond, turning profound loss into a force for awareness and change.
The Independent, alongside Missing People, is currently running the SafeCall campaign, aiming to raise £165,000 to launch a free, nationwide service for the 70,000 children reported missing each year. The service would provide immediate support and safety options.
For anyone affected by a disappearance, the charity Missing People offers free, confidential support on 116 000 or via their website.
