The mother of Luke Durbin, who disappeared in Ipswich 11 years ago, has said she is “so grateful” to the Missing People Choir for promoting the search for her son on a national stage.
Nicki Durbin was speaking after the group, which she joined last year, came eighth in the final of Britain’s Got Talent last night.
A picture of Luke, who was 19 when he vanished in the early hours of May 12, 2006 after a night out with friends, was displayed on the screen behind the singers along with other missing people during their semi-final performance.
Miss Durbin said it was “incredibly overwhelming” to see her son’s face on the television.
She added: “I had been told that was a possibility, and I think I had just forgotten about it because you are engrossed in actually watching the choir perform. So it was very moving and incredibly sad but I am so grateful to the Missing People for all they have done to keep promoting Luke’s disappearance.”
Missing People Choir was one of the frontrunners in Britain’s Got Talent, with judge Alesha Dixon saying after its final performance: “I think right now in the competition, you are the ones to beat.”
Although it didn’t win, Miss Durbin, who lives in Ipswich, said the group had achieved something greater.
“They have created so much publicity for so many missing people and it’s been incredible with social media,” she said. “They have brought the families of the missing all together via social media.
“It’s been an amazing experience to watch it. They have done an incredible job and I just think obviously for families like mine the fact they are highlighting so many cases of missing people, it’s just phenomenal.
“Just on my Facebook feed on Luke’s group, somebody made a comment about the fact that it suddenly makes you realise that it’s not just a very sad, unfortunate situation that happened in Ipswich, it’s happening everywhere all the time.
“Obviously if just one missing person is found through that it would be absolutely incredible.”
Miss Durbin joined the Missing People Choir last year, on the 10th anniversary of Luke’s disappearance, but she was unable to commit to Britain’s Got Talent.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here