THE BGT ACT PERFORMING TO SAVE LIVES
I thought of jumping under a train when Lee went missing... I wanted to join him in heaven, now I sing to him there instead – PETER BOXELL ON MISSING SON
But singing allows me to voice my feelings.” He adds: “I’ll never give up hope that my son is still alive. I’ll cling to that hope and keep singing for Lee.
“The police say he was probably murdered, but even if the worst has happened then maybe Lee will hear me in heaven.”
The schoolboy’s bedroom remains untouched in Cheam, Surrey. He had been out with a pal in nearby Sutton, but they separated around lunchtime.
It was thought Lee was going to see a football match at Crystal Palace in South London. But police believe he went to unofficial youth club The Shed, near St Dunstan’s Church in Cheam. It was run by William Lambert, jailed for 11 years in 2011 for sex crimes committed between 1985 and 1990. His victims were all girls aged 11 to 15. But Lambert was only one of a number of sexual predators known to have been linked to the club. Peter says police told him they fear Lee may have come across evidence of crimes taking place and been silenced by someone. In 2013 they examined the church graveyard using radar. They found no remains, but still believe Lee was a victim of a paedophile gang. Peter says: “Reluctantly, I think it’s likely that is what happened.
“My only comfort is to believe he was coming to someone’s aid.” Three years ago, four people were arrested on suspicion of Lee’s murder but, due to insufficient evidence, it went no further. Police say Lee’s case is still open.
One comfort for Peter and wife Christine, 75, is that their daughter Lindsey, 41, gave them grandchildren Alex, nine, and Abigail, seven.
Peter says: “Alex really wants to help people, which was just like Lee. He knows all about his uncle and when he was six, some detectives came to the house. He offered them fairy cakes and said, ‘Would it help if I gave them a picture of Uncle Lee?’” He adds: “Alex is so proud of the fact I’m on BGT, and being so much like Lee that makes me think [Lee] would be proud, too.”
The choir also includes the sister of Manic Street Preachers guitarist Richey Edwards, who went missing aged 27 in 1995, and the father of chef Claudia Lawrence, who disappeared in York in 2009 aged 35.
It raises funds for the Missing People charity, which raises awareness of people who’ve disappeared and throws a lifeline to their loved ones. The charity regularly appeals for help on our Madeuthink page.
Peter says he gained tremendous help from the charity, but the real revelation has been support from choir members.
He says: “When we’re together it reminds us we’re not alone, that we’re not the only people suffering loss and pain. We’re not the only ones living in limbo.”
To support Missing People text FIND to 70660 and donate £5 to their Find Every Child appeal. See missingpeople. org.uk for T&Cs. Britain’s Got Talent semi-finals continue tonight on ITV at 7.30pm, with the results show at 9.30pm. The final is on Saturday at 7.30pm.