BOT TALENT

Sad secret of choir who moved judges ‘My son’s grave will probably stay empty’ SUNDAY MIRROR I was married to a Dalek, says mimic Jess

Amanda and Alesha, who she loves to flirt with The Missing People choir THE Missing People Choir’s song that so touched judges last night has a poignant secret. It was created by choir member Peter Boxell, 70, in 2014 as police dug in vain for his son Lee, 15. Peter, a former civil servant with no musical background, had dreamt he was on stage singing about Lee to a packed audience. Next day he told a pal at the Missing People charity, who said he should sing it at their carol concert in central London. The friend arranged for Peter to have singing lessons and for his tune to be scored. “Next thing, I found myself singing the song in front of 800 With Charles

Civil servant Peter Boxell had dreamt of singing about Lee, 15 people at St Martin-in-the-Fields church. I got a standing ovation. It was unbelievable,” said Peter.

The song, I Miss You, also helped to ease the trauma of a year-long police dig for son Lee, who vanished 29 years ago.

The search was at a graveyard in Cheam, South London, where a gravedigger jailed for abusing children had worked. But no trace was found of football-mad Lee, of nearby Sutton, said to have been last seen walking towards Cheam.

“I’m not sure how I’d have got through that period without my singing to keep me busy,” said Peter, who is married to Christine, 75, and has a daughter and two young grandchildren.

Peter told Missing People how singing had helped him to cope.

“And that gave Missing People the idea to set up a choir so people like me with loved ones who are missing could all come together and sing together,” he said.

“By writing songs I can help raise awareness of Lee and other missing people in the hope that someone somewhere might listen and have their conscience pricked to tell police what they know.” On BGT Jess’s marriage to ‘Dalek’ Spargo