Chloe Hadjimatheou

At this point in the conversation, Miss Bowen and Gareth are on their usual route, walking from the bus stop to her house.

At this point in the conversation, Miss Bowen and Gareth are on their usual route, walking from the bus stop to her house.

This account about the meeting comes third-hand. It's what Gareth remembers Miss Bowen telling him. But an agreement does seem to have been reached in that room between the male teachers and Miss Bowen. You leave quietly... And that will be the end of the matter. If that meeting did happen as Miss Bowen described it, I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall.

This account about the meeting comes third-hand. It's what Gareth remembers Miss Bowen telling him. But an agreement does seem to have been reached in that room between the male teachers and Miss Bowen. You leave quietly... And that will be the end of the matter. If that meeting did happen as Miss Bowen described it, I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall.

Did they ever even consider reporting Miss Bowen to the authorities? Was she panicking at this point?

Did they ever even consider reporting Miss Bowen to the authorities? Was she panicking at this point?

Just a few days later, Gareth finds himself alone in a room with one of those men who told Miss Bowen she had to go. It's his weekly counselling session with Mr Tinch. What would you talk about in the sessions with Tinch?

Just a few days later, Gareth finds himself alone in a room with one of those men who told Miss Bowen she had to go. It's his weekly counselling session with Mr Tinch. What would you talk about in the sessions with Tinch?

Did you like him back then?

Did you like him back then?

So Gareth walks into that office with his heart pounding because he's sure Mr Tinch is going to ask him about it all. It's their final session of the year and at the end of it, Gareth says, Mr Tinch looks him in the eye and asks, is there anything else you want to tell me? Gareth says no. And that's the end of it. There were so many times responsible adults could have intervened.

So Gareth walks into that office with his heart pounding because he's sure Mr Tinch is going to ask him about it all. It's their final session of the year and at the end of it, Gareth says, Mr Tinch looks him in the eye and asks, is there anything else you want to tell me? Gareth says no. And that's the end of it. There were so many times responsible adults could have intervened.

That day in his office, Mr Tinch had an opportunity. Even if Gareth had denied it, which, by the way, he admits he probably would have, Mr Tinch could have at very least let him know he would be there when he was ready to talk. But he didn't. Years later, Gareth will turn to Mr Tinch, hoping he'll act as a witness. But Des Tinch will say he never even heard a rumour about him and Miss Bowen.

That day in his office, Mr Tinch had an opportunity. Even if Gareth had denied it, which, by the way, he admits he probably would have, Mr Tinch could have at very least let him know he would be there when he was ready to talk. But he didn't. Years later, Gareth will turn to Mr Tinch, hoping he'll act as a witness. But Des Tinch will say he never even heard a rumour about him and Miss Bowen.

What's amazing to me is that that meeting, from what she said to you, sounds like they felt they had incontrovertible evidence.

What's amazing to me is that that meeting, from what she said to you, sounds like they felt they had incontrovertible evidence.

So Gareth and Miss Bowen stopped looking over their shoulders because it's obvious that despite the confrontation by senior staff, no-one's going to do a thing to stop them. No-one's protecting Gareth. Just before the end of term, Gareth gets really bold. He sneaks up the school tower to the science block. It's during break when he knows no one else is there.

So Gareth and Miss Bowen stopped looking over their shoulders because it's obvious that despite the confrontation by senior staff, no-one's going to do a thing to stop them. No-one's protecting Gareth. Just before the end of term, Gareth gets really bold. He sneaks up the school tower to the science block. It's during break when he knows no one else is there.

And he corners Miss Bowen in the chemistry lap and he kisses her. It's the only time he's ever dared be physical with her on school grounds. But at this point, he feels that nothing and no one's going to come between them.

And he corners Miss Bowen in the chemistry lap and he kisses her. It's the only time he's ever dared be physical with her on school grounds. But at this point, he feels that nothing and no one's going to come between them.