Anthony Stammers: Fresh appeal to find talented Essex musician missing for a decade – as family vow never to give up hope | UK News

A fresh appeal has been launched to find a talented musician who vanished exactly 10 years ago.

Anthony Stammers, 27, was last seen leaving his family home in Mile End Road, Colchester, Essex, at around 10am on 27 May 2012.

He was due to attend the funeral of his grandfather the day after he disappeared – but did not arrive at Colchester Crematorium, sparking fears for his safety.

Police have followed up potential sightings in Colchester, Staffordshire, Birmingham, Doncaster, and London, but none have yielded significant lines of enquiry.

Heartbroken parents Robert and Julie told of how they are living a “dual existence” after their son, described as a “kind and gentle soul”, went missing.

But they have refused to give up hope of finding him – and are now calling on anyone who can shed light on his whereabouts to come forward.

The couple have two other children, Cathy and James, who were very close to Anthony before he went missing.

Mum Julie said: “There were, and still are, days when you feel like you don’t want to get up, but I remember what Rob has said to me before, that today could be the day we find him.

“That’s what keeps us going; that and very dear family and friends.”

She added: “You never move on, you don’t really even ‘deal with it’, you ‘get through it’; that’s what we do.”

The hours leading up to his disappearance

On the day of his disappearance, Anthony told his mother he was going out and likely to stay overnight with a friend ahead of his grandfather’s funeral.

“He texted me asking to make sure his trousers were ready for the funeral – and that was the last contact we had,” Julie said.

Enquiries found Anthony withdrew cash from a petrol station close to home – his last-known bank transaction.

He was wearing blue jeans, a red, and blue checked shirt and carrying a black record bag when he was last seen.

He may have also been wearing a black New York Yankees baseball cap and a beige jacket.

‘We are still here for him’

To mark the 10-year anniversary of his disappearance, Anthony’s loved ones are taking part in a series of events to raise money for charity Missing People, which they credit for providing huge support.

Older sibling James – who appeared on Channel 4 show SAS Who Dares Wins in a bid to raise awareness about his brother’s disappearance – will run 100km from Kingston-upon-Thames, where Anthony went to university, to Colchester on Friday.

James will then join his family for the final leg of a 50km walk over 10 days, ending on Saturday.

Julie wrote on the family’s JustGiving page: “We wanted to mark this date to raise awareness in the hope that there may be a way to reach Anthony and let him know that we are still here for him when he is ready to get in touch or come home.

“We would love to know he is safe.”

Anthony is described as white, of medium build, 5ft 10in height and with short, dark brown hair – although his hair could be a different length or colour, and he could have a beard, Essex Police said.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Essex Police on 101 quoting reference 12-001452 or get in touch with charity Missing People on 116 000.