In 1983, Michael Bell left a Scottish camping trip to head home to Birmingham. He called his parents twice. Then nothing. Over four decades later, he's still missing…

*** LISTENER CAUTION IS ADVISED ***

This episode was written by Rosanna Fitton. Research by Benjamin Fitton.

Edited by Joel Porter at Dot Dot Dot Productions.

Illustrations and production direction by Rosanna Fitton.

Narration, additional audio editing and mixing, and script editing by Benjamin Fitton.

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More information and episode references can be found on our website https://theywalkamonguspodcast.com

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MUSIC:

Fleeting by Alice In Winter

Cain by Cody Martin

Charlie by Cody Martin

Depth Of Loss by Cody Martin

Final Moments by Cody Martin

Forbidden Wing by Cody Martin

Count Backwards From10 by Glasseyes

Life Intended by Awyr

The Space Between by Chelsea McGough

REFERENCES:

NEWSPAPER ARCHIVES

Birmingham Evening Mail - Wed, Sep 21, 1983 ·Page 16

Evening Despatch - Thu, Sep 22, 1983 ·Page 3

Evening Chronicle - Thu, Sep 22, 1983 ·Page 10

Herald Express - Thu, Sep 22, 1983 ·Page 12

Coventry Evening Telegraph - Thu, Sep 22, 1983 ·Page 14

Southern Daily Echo - Thu, Sep 22, 1983 ·Page 2

Birmingham Evening Mail - Thu, Feb 16, 1984 ·Page 13

Sunday Mercury - Sun, Jul 08, 1984 ·Page 10

The Sutton Coldfield News - Fri, Mar 12, 1993 ·Page 27

Solihull News - Fri, Mar 12, 1993 ·Page 69

Walsall Observer - Fri, Mar 12, 1993 ·Page 16

Sunday Mercury - Sun, Mar 14, 1993 ·Page 11

Birmingham Evening Mail - Tue, Dec 19, 1995 ·Page 6

Black Country Evening Mail - Tue, Dec 19, 1995 ·Page 6

Birmingham Evening Mail - Sat, Mar 21, 1998 ·Page 14

Black Country Evening Mail - Sat, Mar 21, 1998 ·Page 14

BRITISH NEWSPAPER ARCHIVE

Shropshire Star - Thursday 22 September 1983 - Page 16

Wolverhampton Express and Star - Wednesday 21 September 1983 - Page 10

Birmingham Weekly Mercury - Sunday 08 July 1984 - Page 10

Birmingham Weekly Mercury - Sunday 14 March 1993 - Page 11

Birmingham Mail - Tuesday 19 December 1995 - Page 6

Birmingham Mail - Wednesday 21 September 1983 - Page 16

Solihull News - Friday 12 March 1993 - Page 69

Coventry Evening Telegraph - Thursday 22 September 1983 - Page 14

Birmingham Mail - Saturday 21 March 1998 - Page 14

Sandwell Evening Mail - Saturday 21 March 1998 - Page 14

Walsall Observer - Friday 12 March 1993 - Page 16

Sutton Coldfield News - Friday 12 March 1993 - Page 27

Birmingham Mail - Thursday 16 February 1984 - Page 13

WEST MIDLANDS POLICE

https://www.westmidlands.police.uk/news/west-midlands/news/news/2025/december/can-you-help-us-solve-our-longest-running-missing-person-cases/

https://www.westmidlands.police.uk/news/west-midlands/news/news/2025/october/appeal-for-information-to-help-find-man-missing-since-1983/

POLICE SCOTLAND

https://www.facebook.com/PoliceScotlandHighlandandIslands/posts/sharing-appeal-for-missing-person-michael-bell-on-behalf-of-west-midlands-police/1230018459167468/

MISSING PEOPLE

https://www.missingpeople.org.uk/help-us-find/michael-bell-94-001082

DOE NETWORK

https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/software/mp-main.html?id=3255dmuk

ONLINE

https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/appeal-info-missing-man-who-36136582 - 21:10, 26 Oct 2025

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cn8x6jej6xjo

https://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/fp/news/6879957/michael-bell-disappearance-skye-birmingham/

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/new-clues-missing-blues-fan-32728627

https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/midlands-news/dad-birmingham-city-fan-missing-32751955

https://www.scotsman.com/news/new-appeal-search-michael-bell-syke-camper-5376507

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/37128116/new-clues-missing-man-scottish-highlands/