Fears grow for missing couple (From Stroud News and Journal)

Fears grow for missing couple

FEARS are mounting for the safety of a Bisley couple whose sudden disappearance has stunned a village.

Publicans, Bob and Barbara Dorey of the Stirrup Cup Inn have not been seen since last Thursday when they left in their grey Jeep Cherokee to go shopping.

Staff began to worry when they failed to return after two days and a suicide note was then found explaining that they couldn't face growing old.

The couple sparked a nationwide police hunt and yesterday Mrs Dorey's cousin Karen Shorts made a plea for anyone with information about them to call the police.

"This is extremely out of character and we just can't imagine why they would do anything like this," she said.

"They have always been a bubbly and lively couple and are used to working in a pub environment. They have been running pubs all their lives.

"This is a complete mystery to the whole family as to why this has happened. It is so out of character.

"We are extremely concerned as to what has happened to them. We respect their wish that they may not want to be found.

"However we are extremely worried and we would just like to know they are ok." Barman Nathan Nash (21) was the last person to see the couple when they said they were off to buy cigarettes.

Nathan continued working the next day but he and barmaid Rachel Wiltshire raised the alarm on Thursday after they found a note marked 'private' on the couple's bed.

"It just said they were unhappy and they wanted to kill themselves," said Mr Nash, who has worked at the pub for three years. "It was a suicide note."

It is believed that Mr Dorey (60) and Mrs Dorey (59) feared old age.

The couple did not appear to have any cash problems. They paid off all their bills and left £7,000 in the safe.

Leo Cooper, husband of novelist Jilly, is a regular at the Stirrup Cup and he told the SNJ he was shocked by their disappearance.

"It's highly mysterious, a total and complete surprise," he said. "I don't think the business was doing very well but I don't think it was in serious trouble.

" I found them perfectly amiable. I liked them both.

"We hope they have survived and live to fight another day."

Gloucestershire Police have alerted forces nationwide and police in Chichester, Sussex, where the couple used to live, have carried out helicopter searches of the area.

The grey Jeep Cherokee they were driving has the registration mark L649 TYJ. Anyone who may have seen them or knows their whereabouts should call Stroud police on 0845 090 1234.

The pub re-opened on Monday evening after owners Laurel Pubs took over the lease Stand-in landlord Tony Barnes was behind the bar.