Remembering Libby Squire
How the area pulled together to help find one of their most loved students.
Last updated 11th Feb 2021
Libby Squire would have turned 23-years-old this year had her life not been taken away so soon.
During 2019, she came to study philosophy at the University of Hull after taking a liking to the city.
In February, Libby went missing.
The last sighting of her was on Friday, 1st February at 12:05am on Beverley Road at the junction with Haworth Street after she was taken home in a taxi following a night out with friends.
Tragically, Libby was not seen again and never returned to her Wellesley Avenue home.
A police investigation was launched to help find Libby.
Days after she went missing, Libby’s parents were “overwhelmed with people’s kindness and support”, describing how “incredible” all her friends, students at the University and members of the public were in coming together in the search for their daughter.
Libby is one of four children. Her mother, Lisa Squire who she was close to described Libby as a “very sociable person who loves going out and enjoys spending time with her friends.”
“Libby decided to come to Hull University when she fell in love with the city.” Said Lisa.
She was in a long-term relationship with her boyfriend Connor Pye who described how they had both spoke about marriage and having children.
After her disappearance, hundreds of people turned out on the evening of 5th February to show their support at an event at the University of Hull.
Two days later more than 50 volunteers spent the night searching around the city.
One week later, extensive searches began locally.
Humberside Police were handing out leaflets, speaking to residents and drove a ‘media van’ which displayed an appeal to help find Libby. It was also put out across 20 digital screens in the main shopping areas of the city centre.
Almost 2,000 flyers were printed out written in different languages and a #HelpFindLibby campaign circulated on social media.
Speaking at the time, Detective Superintendent Matt Hutchinson said:
“It was an emotional time for some of the volunteers who were visibly upset but still wanted to help.”
Despite weeks of painstaking attempts to find her, Libby's body was sadly discovered in the Humber Estuary by a fishing boat at Spurn Point on March 20, 2019.
Anne Danerolle, Church Minster, Hull Community Church set up a vigil for people to come and remember her.
She said: “ It just felt wrong for me to carry on doing church and just ignoring the fact that this is what really mattered to the community, I reached out to one of her friends who put me in touch with her parents and flatmates. They ended up coming to church that Sunday.“
Back at home in Wycombe where Libby’s family live, St Paul’s Parish also organised a vigil.
Alison Rimmer, Church Warden, West Wycombe Churches, said: “over 200 people attended, it was a very dark winter night, there was candles and prayers said. As a church that’s the way we felt we wanted to support.”
“There was a feeling of huge emptiness and worry. There was very little we could do in a practical sense like the good people of Hull could.”
A special memorial bench for Libby was unveiled in Hull on Friday 31 July, 2020.
It’s been host to dozens of heartfelt tributes and flowers since the student disappeared from a bench there in February 2019.
The former Lord Mayor of Hull, Councillor Steven Wilson said: “The tragic death of Libby affected the whole city and we hope this bench acts as a fitting tribute and somewhere people can come to remember her.”
Quarter of a million people got involved with tributes when Libby Squire went missing. The Hull community church say they were overwhelmed with support on Mother’s Day.
Anne also attended the event, she said: “We started talking about making potpourri from the flowers and it happened to be Mother’s Day the following Sunday, we had people from all over the city dropping jars in. My heart was full, I don’t think I’ll every understand what happened in those few weeks.”
Libby’s funeral took place on Thursday, 3rd October in Libby’s hometown in Buckinghamshire.
Alison from West Wycombe churches remembers people who knew Libby, had great things to say about her. She said “people said what a lovely and loving girl she was, she adored her family and friends and clearly affected them all with love and thrill for life.”
St Paul’s Parish church was kept open everyday after she went missing until lockdown. Alison said: “it was open 24 hours a day for people to have a few minutes silence and peace. They could light a candle and think about Libby.”
Libby Squire will be remembered in the hearts of many across Hull and Wycombe.