DJ Derek disappearance: what we know so far

Here’s what we know so far about the disappearance of legendary Bristol DJ Derek, real name Derek Serpell-Morris, who was reported missing last Thursday.

• Although he was reported missing from his home in St Pauls, Bristol, last Thursday he is believed to have vanished several weeks ago. His bank accounts haven’t been active in this period of time.

• Family and friends are fearing for the worst after it emerged he was complaining of extreme head pain the last time he was seen. His niece, Jennifer Griffiths, said her 73-year-old uncle was last seen in a Bristol city centre pub on July 10 when he left his friends because he was in pain.

• Police revealed that there has been no activity in his bank account since then. When they searched Derek’s home in St Paul’s Bristol, they found that his fridge only contained an old plate of food and a pint of milk which went out of date on July 13.

• As a result of the latest findings, police have now upgraded the status of their missing person’s inquiry to “severe”.

• Mrs Griffiths believes Derek never made it back to his flat on July 10th. She has appealed for people to join a search party which will retrace the DJ’s steps from Pranj’s Bar in Corn Street to his home. Accompanied by a police officer, the party will leave the bar at 11am on Thursday 30th July. 

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• Celebrities including Dizzee Rascal, Massive Attack’s Daddy G and Radio 1’s Rob Da Bank have all appealed for the public’s help in finding Derek. Daddy G described him in an interview with ITV as a “national treasure”. Dizzee, who starred in a 2010 music video with Derek, asked his half a million strong Twitter following to help find the legend.

• Derek was famed for visiting every branch of Wetherspoons in the country. Photographs of him have been placed in 940 premises across the UK in the hope that patrons might recognise him. Eddie Gershon, spokesman for Wetherspoon, said: “Derek is well known in a number of pubs and we are happy to assist in the search in any way possible.”

• He has been a resident of St Paul’s in Bristol since 1978 and was formerly an accountant for Cadbury before becoming a DJ in his mid-30s. Serpell-Morris is known or playing a blend of 60s rocksteady, reggae, ska, dancehall and soul music.

• Anybody who has any information on Derek’s whereabouts should contact Avon and Somerset Police immediately on 101 quoting reference number MP3388/15.