Robert Gibson: Londoner missing for more than a week spotted on the Isle of Wight

Appeal: Police have issued a new CCTV image of Robert Gibson in a bid to find him
Met Police
Jamie Bullen21 June 2016

A man who went missing from his south London home more than a week ago is believed to have travelled to the Isle of Wight.

Robert Gibson, 45, left his home in Gypsy Hill at 3pm on Monday, June 13 to go for a walk in Dulwich Park but never returned.

His disappearance has sparked a mass appeal from friends who have sent out hundreds of flyers in a bid to find him while his wife and son are said to be increasingly concerned.

Celebrities including Boy George, Sara Cox, Theo Paphitis and Great British Bake Off winner Nadiya Hussain have retweeted the appeal to highlight the disappearance to followers worldwide.

Police today said Mr Gibson was seen on CCTV at a Co-op supermarket in Central Hill and was then spotted hours later catching a boat from Portsmouth to Ryde.

From there, he is believed to have boarded a train at Ryde Pier Head towards Lake and Shanklin.

A new CCTV image has been released in the hope that he will be identified.

Investigators say the 45-year-old is known to enjoy coastal walks and often stays on campsites.

Mr Gibson, who is well known in the area for campaigning to save his local library, frequents Dulwich and Sydenham.

Friend Joe Duggan, 48, said: "Robbie's family, his friends, and the wider Crystal Palace community that value the great work Robbie has done as a library campaigner, would just love to know that he is safe and well.

"We are getting increasingly concerned.

"This is out of character. Robbie is such a positive and enthusiastic campaigner who gets things done in the community. It's no surprise the community has responded the way it has to find him."

In April, he played a leading role in the Carnegie Library Occupation in Herne Hill in protest at Lambeth Council’s decision to shut libraries and reopen them as healthy living centres.

He is described as white, around 6ft tall, with a slim build and grey hair.

Mr Gibson wears black-rimmed Prada glasses and is possibly dressed in a blue or grey t-shirt with green or brown khaki trousers.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call police in Lambeth on 101 or the charity Missing People on 116000

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