Michael Spall.
A FORMER prison worker at HMP Isle of Wight is feared missing in Thailand.
Friends of Island man, Michael Spall, known as Mick or Micky, are extremely concerned for his welfare after failing to make contact with him for more than eight months.
Mr Spall, 70, a keen golfer and powerlifter, retired from the prison service, where he worked as a maintenance man, and moved to Sirin, where he married a Thai woman and set up home with her and her family.
Last year, Mr Spall who lived in Newport and played at Newport Golf Club, returned to the Island to transfer his assets to Thailand and told friends he had no plans to come back.
His friend and former colleague, Stephen King, went to visit him in Thailand last November for a golfing holiday.
However, he failed to track him down and now, months later, there has still been no contact from Mr Spall.
Mr King, who lives near Ryde, stayed with a friend in Pataya and tried contacting Mr Spall numerous times by telephone.
"A week before I left the Island, Mick phoned me to warn me about the floods in his area but, at the time, his village was fine but he complained about the number of 'strangers’ who had started residing in the village.
"When I arrived in Thailand I tried calling him several times but I was met by a Thai voice who put the phone down each time. I was disappointed not to see him but at the time I was not overly concerned.
"Recently, many of his friends on the Island have contacted me asking if I had heard from him. "He did not contact anyone around Christmas or New Year or for birthdays, which he always does. It has now been several months and we are very concerned," he said.
Mr King, who believes Mr Spall’s sister could still be living on the Island, has contacted the Lucie Blackman Trust, which helps find missing people abroad.
Matt Searle, from the trust, said: "We are unable to disclose details but we do need to speak to a family member urgently. If anyone has any information about the family, call 01983 718802 or e-mail
operations@missingabroad.org in confidence."
Reporter: jamiew@iwcpmail.co.uk