It is with great sadness that we share the news of the death of our Founder, Mary Asprey OBE on Sunday 28th February 2021.

With her sister Janet Newman OBE, who died in June 2016, Mary founded the charity Missing People (then the National Missing Persons Helpline) in response to the 1986 disappearance of estate agent Suzy Lamplugh. Together they launched a free helpline for missing people and their families, leading a team of dedicated volunteers in creating what remains the only charity of its kind in the UK.

Marys commitment to the cause she championed saw it registered as a charity in 1993. Missing People is needed as much now as it was in the beginning as someone is reported missing every 90 seconds in the UK. 176,000 people are reported missing every year and 76,000 are children.

The ethos and the heart of the charity continues to reflect their founding vision. The sisters were recipients of OBEs in 1996, recognising their selfless dedication and determination for some of the most vulnerable people in our society.

Mary and Janet stepped down from their official roles at Missing People in 2004 and they have continued to be part of it at charity events and in key moments.

Jo Youle, Chief Executive of Missing People said: Mary and Janet have left a powerful legacy for the missing persons community. Every member of the charity continues to deliver the mission that the sisters started - of being a lifeline when someone disappears. Their spirit and passion touched so many lives, in so many ways. They always supported me in my leadership of the charity, and I was always so appreciative of that special support. I will miss them both.

The thoughts and condolences of everyone at Missing People are with Marys friends many of them former colleagues and her family.