How the actions of two passionate sisters have helped hundreds of missing people
When Mary Asprey and Janet Newman saw that a need was going unmet in Britain, they did not wait for permission to act. They begged, borrowed, and pushed on every door they could find; They were determined to fill the void that few acknowledged.
The sisters’ persistence would continue to help hundreds of missing people and their families, shaping a legacy that still underpins support services today. But it started with sadness.
Devastated by the disappearance of family friend and estate agent Suzy Lamplugh in 1986, Mary and Janet were stunned to see how little help was given to those left behind. While the nation was looking for Suzy, there was no one sitting at home or taking care of the people waiting next to the empty chair.
The sisters, ordinary housewives from East Sheen in south-west London, realized something fundamental: that going missing was not just a police matter, but a humanitarian crisis. And if no one else would answer it, they would.
So the two sisters decided to start the National Missing Persons Hotline from the back bedroom of Janet’s small apartment. The 24/7 hotline was quickly flooded with calls from people affected or distraught by someone’s disappearance.
As volunteering increased and demand grew, the office was moved to a donated basement in Richmond and the hotline was placed in every phone booth nationwide.
Now with a workforce of 92, Missing People has made significant progress, helping 10,000 people connected to such cases last year. The charity does not record the exact number of missing persons provided direct assistance.
Like Independent Having raised £165,000 to launch SafeCall, a free new service to help lost children find support and safety no matter what, and continuing to raise more, we tell the story of how Mary and Janet came to launch the charity.
donate Here or donate £10 to Missing People by texting SAFE to 70577 – enough for one child to get help.
Janet’s daughter Sash Newman described the pair as a “tournament”. he said Independent: “They were always great fun to be with and they were the life and soul of every meeting you went to, but they never lost sight of what they were actually trying to achieve. They never lost the ball.”
In April 1993 Mary and Janet remortgaged their house and registered the National Missing Persons Helpline as a charity, later renamed Missing Persons. Sash recalled Princess Diana’s visit that same year.
Missing People’s fundraising and communications director, Ross Miller, said one of the charity’s biggest successes was making people understand that going missing was a crisis, something that many people did not understand in the 1980s.
He said the charity had also helped change the way police responded to a disappearance, changing the belief that there was not much the police could do if someone went missing.
“Without philanthropy, I don’t think there would be any point in having a space where, in that most difficult moment, whether you are the missing person or someone who is missing, you can come for tailored support and advice specific to your situation,” Ross explained.
Ross said this was a pivotal moment for the charity as the UK has high suicide rates, as well as many young people experiencing sexual and criminal abuse. He added: “‘How do we ensure the charity is there for more people affected?’ “We’re at a really critical moment in asking the question.”
The charity’s founders, Janet and Mary, died in 2016 and 2021 respectively. “I think the legacy that Janet, Mary and all these volunteers have left from the early days is heartfelt,” Ross said.
“They’ve created a safe space where people can come for care, understanding and non-judgmental support, and that’s essential if we’re going to resolve some of these losses and help people return safely.”
Please donate now To the Independent and Missing Persons’ Safe Call campaign, which raised £165,000 to create a free nationwide service helping vulnerable children find safety and support.
If you or a loved one is lost, text or call the charity Missing People on 116 000 for advice, support and options. It’s free, confidential and non-judgmental. Or visit misspeople.org.uk/get-help
If you are experiencing or struggling to cope with feelings of distress and isolation, Samaritans offer support; You can talk to someone confidentially over the phone, free of charge, or email on 116 123 (UK and ROI) jo@samaritans.orgor visit the Samaritans website to find details of your nearest branch.
