Missing reader alert: Stephen John Williams

May 17, 2015 • 11:00 pm

I have been alerted that one of our British readers, Mr. Stephen John Williams, has gone missing as of Thursday, May 14. His disappearance has been reported to the police, and his siblings Ann and Clive are terribly worried.

I’m told that Mr. Williams is a fan of this website and reads it often. And so, I’m addressing Mr. Williams to ask a favor: if you happen upon this post, please contact Ann, Clive, or even the Devon & Cornwall police to let somebody know that you are alive and well—even if you don’t want to be found.

I don’t like readers going missing, so please, Stephen, check in with your people. Or, if it suits you better, leave a comment below.

30 thoughts on “Missing reader alert: Stephen John Williams”

    1. It’s the sort of thing that makes you check your watch, isn’t it?

  5. Yes, even tho the commentariat is usually pretty much in agreement on everything here – paper orientation excepted, of course – I expect we’re in complete agreement agreement on this.

    Amigo – please let yourself be heard.

  6. Bummer! Pretty sure what’s what – been there – so awful. Come home, please.

  8. I’m so sorry, Ann and Clive!

    Thinking of you and Stephen and hoping fervently that everything turns out well.

    1. Let me add my voice to Diane’s, since she has written my thoughts so well. Best wishes to you Stephen, please Take Care.

  11. Stephen, if you can’t contact your family or the police, you contact Jerry, he can put you in touch with me via my Birmingham, England, phone.

    I hope you, Ann and Clive are holding up. x

    1. The police are well versed in passing on this sort of contact and make it very plain that their concerns stops at the point of establishing that the person is “safe and well”. If the “formerly missing person” wants to avoid contact with friends, family or whatever, then that is their choice and the police will respect that. They will give mild encouragement or pass on a message, but they do respect people’s freedom to go away. (Actually, the Sally Ann have run an anonymous message forwarding service like this for decades as part of their work with “street people”, and are often the ones the police point people towards, just because they do have the decades-long reputation of respecting both sides of the question.)
      I was on the other end of this myself some years ago when I headed off into the hills for a week without telling the Boss, or anyone else, and the Boss then wanted me to go offshore urgently and couldn’t phone me (no phone, landline or mobile), the flat mates didn’t know where I was, the family didn’t … no one knew. And being up in the hills, no-one else knew where I was. Had a nice week in the hills, came down, tried to use my bank card and found it was blocked, phoned the office and found about the kerfuffle. Within a couple of hours, the card was unblocked and I could get a bus ticket back home.
      They’re quite efficient about this. But if someone doesn’t want to be found, then they won’t violate their privacy by finding them for you (once they’ve satisfied themselves that the MISPER is “safe and well”).

  12. This is a touching gesture that Jerry is making (and perhaps also an effective one). Like the others I hope this ends well.

  13. To Stephen and your family, I am sending good thoughts* across the Atlantic just so you know people care.

    I hope you check in soon and that all is well. A note here would very welcome to all.

    *Like prayer, thoughts themselves accomplish little–hence the second part of the sentence explaining why I’m writing this. We do care.

  14. I really hope he is alright – the world can be an unfriendly place, but there are obviously people who desperately want him home, just like all of us do.

  15. My thoughts are with Stephen and his family. I hope everything is all right.

  16. Oh dear, I hope Stephen is okay. My thoughts are with Ann, Clive, and Stephen!

  17. It’s frustrating not being able to do anything in these types of situations. Stephen, if thoughts sent your way aren’t enough…I’ll be more than happy to sacrifice a chicken for you (and turn it into soup), if you can provide details on how I might get it to you.

    b&

  18. You don’t know me, Stephen, but a stranger here wishes you well. Stay safe and set your family’s mind at ease by contacting them or anyone, if you’re able to.

  19. There has been nothing on the News over here, but then again I wouldn’t really expect anything, its not a Crime for an Adult to dissappear and nothing would be said unless a Crime was suspected or the Person was in some way vulnerable, suffering from depression say, I think the best bet would be the wonders of Social Media, it always helps to upload their Picture to FB and note the Area they went missing,there has been some success in the last couple of months in my own Area finding elderly people that have wandered off for whatever reason.

  20. Stephen, whatever it is, there are people who love and care about you. Please, please, please let them help you.

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