Police launch appeal for ‘Britain’s oldest DJ’: 73 year old DJ Derek missing for three weeks

Portishead's Geoff Barrow also expresses his concern for Bristol-based pensioner

Police have launched an appeal to trace Bristol veteran DJ Derek.

The 73-year-old, who became known as “Britain’s oldest DJ”, has not been seen for three weeks, according to his family.

Derek Morris’ niece, Jennifer Amy, said his disappearance is “completely out of character”.

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She told BBC News: “I’ve left numerous messages for him and he hasn’t got back – if he goes away he always lets me know.

“His friends have been in touch to say he hasn’t been in contact. We’re all extremely worried.”

Bristol mayor George Ferguson appealed for his return. He tweeted:

Portishead‘s Geoff Barrow also expressed his concern for the retired DJ.

He wrote:

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https://twitter.com/jetfury/status/624490657390964736

Aside from a one-off show on New Year’s Eve last year, Morris retired from DJing in 2013. He built a reputation for playing rocksteady, reggae, ska, dancehall and soul during his career which featured slots at Glastonbury and the Big Chill.

Morris launched his DJ career in his mid-30s after working in the accounts department of confectionery firm Cadbury’s.

In 2006, he told the BBC that he left the firm after years of “domestic hell” before starting work as a DJ in a Bristol pub.

Over more than 40 years he established himself as a fixture on the city’s clubbing scene.

In 2012 he won the Lord Mayor’s medal for his “outstanding” contribution to the music scene in the city.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4 at the time, he said he finished most sets with the Bob Marley classic ‘One Love’.

He said: “It’s a perfect signing-off record for a reggae set – let’s get together and feel all right. So next time, people, let’s get together and feel all right.”

He also appeared in Dizzee Rascal’s video for ‘Dirtee Disco’.

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