When Mary Asprey and Janet Newman saw a glaring gap in support for missing persons and their families, they refused to wait for someone else to act. Driven by the devastating disappearance of their friend Suzy Lamplugh in 1986, the sisters from East Sheen, southwest London, took matters into their own hands.
Recognising that a disappearance is not just a police matter but a profound human crisis, the duo set up the National Missing Persons Helpline from the back bedroom of Janet’s tiny flat. What started as a grassroots effort quickly gained momentum, as the 24/7 helpline became inundated with calls from those affected by someone going missing.
As demand grew, the charity – later renamed Missing People – expanded, moving to a donated basement in Richmond and placing its helpline in phone boxes across the country. Today, it boasts a workforce of 92 and helped 10,000 people connected to missing persons cases just last year.
“They were always tremendous fun to be with and they would be the life and soul of any gathering that you went to, but they never lost their eye on what they were actually trying to achieve,” said Sash Newman, Janet’s daughter.
The sisters’ legacy has been described by the charity as “one of heart” – they created a safe space for the missing and their loved ones to find dedicated support and non-judgmental advice. Their pioneering work also helped shift police responses to disappearances, challenging the belief that there was little that could be done.
“Without the charity, I think there would be no sense that in that toughest moment, whether you’re the missing person or somebody that misses them, that there is a space for you to come to for dedicated support and advice specific to your situation,” said Ross Miller, the charity’s fundraising and communications director.
As the UK faces rising suicide rates and the exploitation of young people, the charity’s work is more crucial than ever. The sisters’ unwavering determination to fill a void and support the most vulnerable has left an indelible mark, inspiring generations of Missing People volunteers and staff to continue their vital mission.
