It's tempting to run away from the present

Published on Thursday 6 December 2007 12:02

I ONCE ran away from home. I was about ten years old, so I took everything a boy that age needs to cope with long-term survival in the big, wide world.

In other words, a football comic and enough money for a bag of chips. I didn't even get to the end of the street before my brother hauled me back and the minor disagreement that sparked my disappearance was quickly resolved. But for some people, going missing is a much more complex and serious experience.

In Big Brother Britain, disappearing is the last great act of rebellion. With CCTV everywhere and more and more personal information being held and then lost by the Government, it is harder than ever to simply vanish.

Yet, every year, an incredible 220,000 people are reported missing. Some cases, like that of Vicky Hamilton, take years to solve and end in absolutely tragic circumstances. But the vast majority are much more innocent and individuals are traced in just a matter of hours.

In between, are the curious cases like the Seaton Carew canoeist. Unkind cynics in cyberspace have suggested John Darwin may have known exactly what he was doing when he paddled off into the sunset in 2002.

Having spent a little time in Hartlepool's premier seaside resort, a desire to escape as far away as possible would be entirely believable and understandable. But when the 52-year-old walked into a London police station earlier this week he claimed to have simply no recollection of events of the past five years and blamed the whole thing on amnesia. I believe him. Think about it - if he really had gone to such extraordinary lengths to escape from his nearest and dearest, why on earth would he return just before Christmas, when domestic tension in every household is reaching fever pitch?

Christmas is the worst time of the year for marital breakdowns, with full blast central heating, distant relatives and medium sweet sherry providing the catalyst to tip things over the edge. Add in the January credit card bills and it's actually a wonder the number of people vanishing isn't much higher.

In theory, disappearing from one life and starting another has its temptations. If you're skint, dreading January and fed up with the constant demands of the boss in the office, the idea of jumping on the first plane to Ibiza to work in a beach bar can seem gloriously appealing. If that also means leaving behind an unpaid electricity bill and the fat girl from accounts who's been stalking you since last year's office Christmas party, then so much the better. The problem is the heartache that is left behind.

In my family, years and years ago, a distant relative simply disappeared. A long time later he was traced to South Africa where he'd started a new life and where he was determined to live out his days. He may not have wanted to come home, but at least we knew he was safe.

For others, the not-knowing and worst-case speculation can be a terrible burden. On top of that is the sense of guilt that you could have done more to make them happy and not drive them away.

The Missing People charity works with those who disappear and their families to try to bring about some happy endings.

Take a moment to look at their website - www.missingpeople.org.uk - and the photographs of people who are lost. It might just help give someone a very happy Christmas.

And we thought our lot were useless

LOCAL government is all very well, but when you wouldn't trust those in charge with a pair of scissors, then it's the duty of central government to intervene.

The golf development that Donald Trump proposes to build in north-east Scotland isn't perfect, but with some changes it could be a massive economic and tourism opportunity for the whole of Scotland.

While Aberdeen councillors claim they are safeguarding the environment or local interests by rejecting it, in reality they are just displaying the sort of petty and pathetic ignorance that will give Scotland a bad name.

Future growth depends on working with investors to create developments that bring maximum advantages with minimum disadvantages.

As the Scottish Government has recognised by calling this proposal in, the alternative is to put up a "Closed" sign.

Labour's mole deserves reward

SO, the police have been called in to uncover the Scottish Labour mole who has been leaking stories to the press and causing massive damage to the party.

Priorities seem to have become strangely confused here.

Surely the emphasis should be on making sure those who did wrong are dealt with and changing the system to make sure it can never happen again?

Instead of punishing the individual who put the scandal in the public domain, they should be receiving a reward for public service.

Only by decisively dealing with this kind of thing can politicians ever hope to regain badly-dented public trust and confidence.