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Arthur Heeler-Frood back home after sleeping rough for two months Arthur Heeler-Frood says he slept rough and explored big cities
(35 minutes later)
An idealistic grammar school pupil missing for two months from a remote Devon hamlet has revealed that he spent the time living rough and exploring three of Britain’s biggest cities. A grammar school pupil missing for two months from a remote Devon hamlet has revealed that he spent the time sleeping rough and exploring three of Britain’s biggest cities.
Arthur Heeler-Frood, 15, was reading George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London – the classic tale of living on a shoestring – when he suddenly took off with just £350. Arthur Heeler-Frood, 15, was reading George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris and London – the classic tale of living on a shoestring – when he took off with just £350.
Following frantic appeals from his parents, Caroline, an artist, and Jeremy Heeler-Frood, a cabinet maker, the teenager reappeared on Tuesday afternoon, making his way back to Devon by train.Following frantic appeals from his parents, Caroline, an artist, and Jeremy Heeler-Frood, a cabinet maker, the teenager reappeared on Tuesday afternoon, making his way back to Devon by train.
On Wednesday Arthur said: “I have spent the last 10 weeks exploring London, Birmingham and Manchester by foot, sleeping rough at night.On Wednesday Arthur said: “I have spent the last 10 weeks exploring London, Birmingham and Manchester by foot, sleeping rough at night.
“I am very grateful to everyone who has helped my family in trying to ensure my safe return. I apologise to the police for the time they spent looking for me and for the worry I have caused family and friends.”“I am very grateful to everyone who has helped my family in trying to ensure my safe return. I apologise to the police for the time they spent looking for me and for the worry I have caused family and friends.”
In a statement issued via Devon and Cornwall police, his parents said: “We are overjoyed to have Arthur home with us again; tired, grubby and rather smelly but otherwise none the worse for his experiences. We feel extremely lucky that he is safe and sound. In a statement issued via Devon and Cornwall police, his parents said: “We are overjoyed to have Arthur home with us again – tired, grubby and rather smelly but otherwise none the worse for his experiences. We feel extremely lucky that he is safe and sound.
“Many thanks to Devon and Cornwall police for their professionalism and their tireless search for Arthur. Thank you also to the media for their help in raising awareness of his disappearance and our deep gratitude to all our friends and family who have supported us through this difficult time.“Many thanks to Devon and Cornwall police for their professionalism and their tireless search for Arthur. Thank you also to the media for their help in raising awareness of his disappearance and our deep gratitude to all our friends and family who have supported us through this difficult time.
“We now wish to spend some time in private with Arthur to settle him back home and to make some plans for his future.”“We now wish to spend some time in private with Arthur to settle him back home and to make some plans for his future.”
Speaking on Tuesday evening, Caroline Heeler-Frood said Arthur was on a train in the Exeter area when he was spotted by a member of the public, who tipped off the police. The teenager was met off the train at Honiton, nine miles from his home, by officers and taken to a police station.Speaking on Tuesday evening, Caroline Heeler-Frood said Arthur was on a train in the Exeter area when he was spotted by a member of the public, who tipped off the police. The teenager was met off the train at Honiton, nine miles from his home, by officers and taken to a police station.
The police said: “Officers would like to thank the member of the public who called in and also thank everyone who has assisted with the appeal to find Arthur over the last two months.”The police said: “Officers would like to thank the member of the public who called in and also thank everyone who has assisted with the appeal to find Arthur over the last two months.”
The teenager went missing after leaving his family home in a tucked-away valley near Axminster on the morning of Tuesday 6 September and failing to turn up at school.The teenager went missing after leaving his family home in a tucked-away valley near Axminster on the morning of Tuesday 6 September and failing to turn up at school.
When he disappeared, Arthur left his parents a letter explaining that he was bored with his life, asking them not to try to find him and promising to be back within the year.When he disappeared, Arthur left his parents a letter explaining that he was bored with his life, asking them not to try to find him and promising to be back within the year.
Police forces across the country had been asked to look out for Arthur and postal workers also joined the search for him. The job of finding Arthur was challenging partly because he left without a phone or any electronic equipment. He had just £350 earned from a job washing up in a kitchen restaurant, which is what Orwell did in Paris. However, he had no passport.Police forces across the country had been asked to look out for Arthur and postal workers also joined the search for him. The job of finding Arthur was challenging partly because he left without a phone or any electronic equipment. He had just £350 earned from a job washing up in a kitchen restaurant, which is what Orwell did in Paris. However, he had no passport.
Speaking last week to the Guardian, Ms Heeler-Frood said Arthur was an idealistic boy who liked the idea of adventure and may have been inspired by his older siblings, who had both travelled around Europe. Speaking last week to the Guardian, Caroline Heeler-Frood said Arthur was an idealistic boy who liked the idea of adventure and may have been inspired by his older siblings, who had both travelled around Europe.
But she said he had grown up in the countryside and was not streetwise. “He was bright and had a strong interest in current affairs and politics,” she said.But she said he had grown up in the countryside and was not streetwise. “He was bright and had a strong interest in current affairs and politics,” she said.
“He was adventurous. He enjoyed all the Bear Grylls survival challenge programmes. For the last two summers his brother, Reuben, has hitchhiked across Europe. He travelled extensively into eastern Europe. His sister, Hester, went InterRailing. I think he was inspired by all that.“He was adventurous. He enjoyed all the Bear Grylls survival challenge programmes. For the last two summers his brother, Reuben, has hitchhiked across Europe. He travelled extensively into eastern Europe. His sister, Hester, went InterRailing. I think he was inspired by all that.
“We think that he felt he wanted his own adventure. Hester was leaving for university and he was going to be the last one at home with us. I think he wasn’t looking forward to being left alone with us. I think he wanted to test himself, prove his abilities.”“We think that he felt he wanted his own adventure. Hester was leaving for university and he was going to be the last one at home with us. I think he wasn’t looking forward to being left alone with us. I think he wanted to test himself, prove his abilities.”
She said Arthur was an avid reader. “The book he was reading before he left was Down and Out in Paris and London. You wonder if that had been an influence. He was reading on a Kindle, which he left behind.”She said Arthur was an avid reader. “The book he was reading before he left was Down and Out in Paris and London. You wonder if that had been an influence. He was reading on a Kindle, which he left behind.”
He had not been seen since he left for Colyton Grammar school on his bicycle at 7.30am on Tuesday 6 September. His last words to his mother were: “Don’t worry, I’ve got my fluorescent.”He had not been seen since he left for Colyton Grammar school on his bicycle at 7.30am on Tuesday 6 September. His last words to his mother were: “Don’t worry, I’ve got my fluorescent.”
His custom was to leave his bike at a local post office and get the bus from there to school. When he did not return home, his mother went to the post office but could find no sign of the bike.His custom was to leave his bike at a local post office and get the bus from there to school. When he did not return home, his mother went to the post office but could find no sign of the bike.
Arthur had just received outstanding GCSE grades and started his A-levels the previous day at Colyton Grammar, one of Britain’s most highly rated state schools. Arthur had just received outstanding GCSE grades and started his A-levels the previous day at Colyton grammar, one of Britain’s most highly rated state schools.