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DJ Derek missing: How did the much-loved Bristolian disc jockey disappear without a trace?
DJ Derek missing: How did the much-loved Bristolian disc jockey disappear without a trace?
(36 minutes later)
It is a mystery that has baffled Bristol. How did the 73-year-old local legend known as DJ Derek suddenly vanish, seemingly without trace, on his way home from the pub on a Friday night three weeks ago?
It is a mystery that has baffled Bristol. How did the 73-year-old local legend known as DJ Derek suddenly vanish, seemingly without trace, on his way home from the pub?
Derek Serpell-Morris, Britain’s oldest DJ, was last seen in the Commercial Rooms on Corn Street in the city centre on Friday 10 July. He had been drinking in the JD Wetherspoon’s pub with his friend Steve Noble, but left around 11pm after complaining of headaches.
Derek Serpell-Morris, one of Britain’s oldest DJs, was last seen in the Commercial Rooms on Corn Street in the city centre on Friday 10 July. He had been drinking in the JD Wetherspoons pub with his friend Steve Noble, but left at about 11pm after complaining of headaches.
“Derek said he had a terrible pain down the side of his face,” said Mr Noble, 60. “He looked ok, but he obviously didn’t feel great so he said he was going to get the bus and go home. I said ‘ok, I’ll see you tomorrow’, as we due to meet, but he never turned up. It’s like he has disappeared of the face of the earth. No one can understand it.”
“Derek said he had a terrible pain down the side of his face,” said Mr Noble, 60. “He looked OK, but he obviously didn’t feel great so said he was going to get the bus home. I said ‘OK, I’ll see you tomorrow’, as we were due to meet, but he never turned up. It’s like he has disappeared of the face of the earth. No one can understand it.”
Mr Morris was last seen on CCTV at 11.14pm crossing the road from Rupert Street to Lewins Mead to get the number five bus home. Police believe he got on around 11.20pm with several passengers and got off the bus at the junction of Brook Road and Sussex Place, heading towards City Road. Instead of turning right onto Albert Park, where he lived, he may have decided to head towards the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI). What is known for sure is that he vanished.
Mr Serpell-Morris was last seen on CCTV at 11.14pm crossing the road to get the No 5 bus towards his home a mile and a half north of the city centre. Police believe he got on at about 11.20pm and got off the bus at the junction of Brook Road and Sussex Place, heading towards City Road. Instead of turning right on to Albert Park, where he lived, he may have decided to head towards the Bristol Royal Infirmary (BRI). What is known for sure is that he vanished.
After he failed to hear from his friend the following day, Steve asked Pranjal ‘Pranj’ Chakraborty, who runs Pranj’s Bar in the city centre where Mr Morris performed his last Bristol gig in 2013, if he had seen the DJ but no one had. Concern quickly grew and Mr Chakraborty alerted the DJ’s grandniece, Jennifer Griffiths.
After failing to hear from his friend the next day, Mr Noble asked Pranjal Chakraborty, who runs Pranj’s Bar where Mr Serpell-Morris performed his last Bristol gig, if he had seen the DJ. But he hadn’t. Concern quickly grew and Mr Chakraborty alerted the DJ’s great-niece, Jennifer Griffiths. “I hadn’t heard from him for a couple of weeks either,” said Mrs Griffiths, 29, speaking during a search by more than 50 family and friends on 30 July, tracing the route the DJ is thought to have taken after leaving the pub.
DJ Derek, from Bristol has been reported missing (PA) “I hadn’t heard from him for a couple of weeks either,” said Mrs Griffiths, 29, speaking during a search by more than 50 family and friends on Thursday, which the Independent joined, tracing the route the DJ is thought to have taken after leaving the pub. “I left lots of voice messages on his landline and he would always get back to me, so it was strange. He doesn’t have a mobile – we tried to get him to have one but he refused. My uncle told me to call the police, which I did, and it has escalated from there.
DJ Derek (PA) “I left lots of voice messages on his landline and he would always get back to me, so it was strange. He doesn’t have a mobile – we tried to get him to have one but he refused. The route he took that night wouldn’t have been unusual if he was heading to hospital because of his head pain, but then if he was seen by the BRI they would have a record.”
“The route he took that night wouldn’t have been unusual if he was heading to hospital because of his head pain, but then if he was seen by the BRI they would have a record. We just can’t understand what’s happened.”
Avon and Somerset Police confirmed Mr Serpell-Morris’s bank account has not been used since early July. He does not have a current passport.
Avon and Somerset police have confirmed that Mr Morris’s bank account has not been used since early July. They said that the 73-year-old does not have a current passport and has “definitely not gone abroad”.
Detective inspector Mark Langdon said he was “increasingly concerned” for the DJ’s well-being. “Derek has a hobby of visiting each new Wetherspoons pub which opens in the region and further afield,” he said. “So we have liaised with Wetherspoon and they have circulated our appeal.”
(Photo credit Simon Chapman/LNP) Detective Inspector Mark Langdon said he was “growing increasingly concerned” for the DJ’s wellbeing. “Derek has a hobby of visiting each new Wetherspoon’s pub which opens in the region and further afield,” he said. “So we have liaised with Wetherspoon and they have circulated our appeal.”
Dizzee Rascal is one of several musicians and other celebrities who have added their support in the search, having worked with him on the video for “Dirtee Disco” in 2010.
Dizzee Rascal is one of several musicians and other celebrities have added their support in the search having worked with him on the video for Dirtee Disco in 2010. The Grime MC said on Twitter: “Please help find the Legend DJ Derek I met him on set of my Dirtee Disco video, really nice guy I hope he’s ok.”
(Photo credit Simon Chapman/LNP) Radio 1 DJ Rob da Bank described Mr Serpell-Morris as “one of my favourite DJs ever”, and Bristol musicians Roni Size and Massive Attack also urged people to join the hunt.
Radio 1 DJ Rob Da Bank described Mr Morris as “one of my favourite DJs ever” while Bristol musicians DJ Roni Size and Massive Attack also urged people to try and find him. Victoria Murray, a neighbour who lives above the DJ’s basement flat, said she often went months without seeing him.
Mrs Griffiths said her great-uncle loved to plan trips away. “Derek can’t drive so always took the bus around the country whenever he was booked to play Wetherspoons pubs, heading off for around four or five days a time. He’ll sit in the pub with his friends and get a map out and looks up where all the new Wetherspoons that are opening are.”
“He liked to keep himself to himself and he was often away on tours as well,” she said. “The last time my housemate saw Derek he said he was going to DJ at Wetherspoon’s pubs around the country.”
But she added: “Nothing’s been booked recently.”
Mrs Griffiths said her granduncle loved to plan trips away. “Derek can’t drive so always took the bus around the country whenever he was booked to play Wetherspoon’s pubs, heading off for around four or five days a time. He’ll sit in the pub with his friends and gets a map out and looks up where all the new Wetherspoon’s that are opening are – it doesn’t mean he’s actually booked to go there and nothing’s been booked recently.”
Mr Serpell-Morris launched his DJ career in his mid-thirties after working in the accounts department of Cadbury. He first got behind the decks at the Star and Garter pub, a Bristol music venue, standing out among its overwhelmingly African Caribbean clientele.
Dizzee Rascal has been among those calling for more help finding DJ Derek (Getty) Mr Morris launched his DJ career in his mid-30s after working in the accounts department of confectionery firm Cadbury’s. He first got behind the decks at the Star and Garter pub – surprising many given how much he stood out among the overwhelming African Caribbean/West Indian clientele.
Dizzee Rascal has appealed for help to find the DJ (Getty) Mrs Griffiths said: “I think he took everyone by surprise when he first started. ‘What’s a white guy doing playing all this black music?’ I think they were a bit amazed at the music he played though and fell in love with him.”
Mrs Griffiths said: “I think he took everyone by surprise when he first started. ‘What’s a white guy doing playing all this black music?’ I think they were a bit amazed at the music he played though and fell in love with him.”
Star and Garter regular Dylan Gabriel has known Mr Serpell-Morris for about 20 years and said his character won him great friends.
Star and Garter Regular Dylan Gabriel has known Mr Morris for around 20 years and said his character soon won him great friends.
“He’s quite a shy guy, not the most chatty man but he played amazing music, a lot of ska and old school reggae, but modern stuff too – he wasn’t trapped in the past,” he said. “Derek’s a real character. He’s much loved and a part of the community so all our thoughts are with his family right now.”
“He’s quite a shy guy, not the most chatty man but he played amazing music, a lot of ska and old school reggae, but modern stuff too – he wasn’t trapped in the past. Derek’s a real character. He’s much loved and a part of the community so all our thoughts are with his family right now.”
Having established himself as a fixture on Bristol’s clubbing scene, Mr Serpell-Morris was awarded an OBE and in 2012 won the Lord Mayor’s medal for his “outstanding” contribution to the city’s music scene. He has also played sets at Glastonbury and the Big Chill festival.
Having established himself as a fixture on Bristol’s clubbing scene over the last 40 years, Mr Morris was awarded an OBE and in 2012 won the Lord Mayor’s medal for his “outstanding” contribution to the city’s music scene. He has also played sets at Glastonbury and the Big Chill festival.
The public support for the search has been overwhelming. However, the family has been critical of the police’s handling of the search, claiming that detectives became involved only once family members started giving media interviews. They were also told that officers would be joining them on the search on 30 July but no one appeared.
The public support for the search has been overwhelming. However, the family has been critical of the police’s handling of the search claiming detectives became involved once they started giving media interviews. On Thursday, one of the search groups found two knives wrapped in a bag and dumped in a bush on a square near to where Mr Morris was last seen – they halted the search and waited for an hour before an officer arrived to collect it. They were also told officers would be joining them on the search but no one appeared.
Police searched Mr Serpell-Morris’s basement flat for a third time late on 30 July, taking away some items, but are not giving the family further details. “I don’t know if we’ll get good news now,” Mrs Griffiths said. “They searched his flat before but this sounded like a more intense search. I don’t know why. We just want some answers about what’s happened to Derek.”
Detectives searched Mr Morris’s basement flat for a third time on Thursday night taking away some items but not giving the family further details.
“I don’t know if we’ll get good news now,” Mrs Griffiths said. “They searched his flat before but this sounded like a more intense search. I don’t know why. We just want some answers about what’s happened to Derek.”
Avon and Somerset Police have asked anyone with any information relating to Mr Morris’s disappearance to call 101.
