Chloe Hadjimatheou
👤 PersonAppearances Over Time
Podcast Appearances
It's the first time he's seen her since she told him she was leaving for a kibbutz in Israel 34 years ago. Back then in 1988, they were teacher and pupil. Now they're both adults, he a man of 50 and she in her 60s, just a few years short of retirement. All this took place months before Gareth came to see me with his story, but everything you've heard him say over the last three episodes?
It's the first time he's seen her since she told him she was leaving for a kibbutz in Israel 34 years ago. Back then in 1988, they were teacher and pupil. Now they're both adults, he a man of 50 and she in her 60s, just a few years short of retirement. All this took place months before Gareth came to see me with his story, but everything you've heard him say over the last three episodes?
His entire account of what went on between them was put to Miss Bowen by barristers who cross-examined her over several days.
His entire account of what went on between them was put to Miss Bowen by barristers who cross-examined her over several days.
I always thought it was pretty unlikely that I'd get the chance to speak to Sally-Ann Bowen. I had hoped. I wrote her a letter and emails. But the TRA hearing means that, even if she doesn't want to talk to me, we can hear from Miss Bowen herself. This isn't her real voice, but these are her real words.
I always thought it was pretty unlikely that I'd get the chance to speak to Sally-Ann Bowen. I had hoped. I wrote her a letter and emails. But the TRA hearing means that, even if she doesn't want to talk to me, we can hear from Miss Bowen herself. This isn't her real voice, but these are her real words.
As she's being questioned by her own lawyer, Gareth's watching it all on his laptop screen at home. It's the same woman he remembers. Older now, but still the same long blonde hair and the same mannerisms. He's nervous as hell, but he's also dying to know what she's going to say.
As she's being questioned by her own lawyer, Gareth's watching it all on his laptop screen at home. It's the same woman he remembers. Older now, but still the same long blonde hair and the same mannerisms. He's nervous as hell, but he's also dying to know what she's going to say.
She comes across as well-spoken and articulate. And according to Gareth, she sounds much younger than she actually is. The victim in any kind of trial or hearing doesn't get a lawyer. The allegations are put to Miss Bowen by a presenting officer for the TRA, the lawyer whose job it is to act as a kind of prosecutor.
She comes across as well-spoken and articulate. And according to Gareth, she sounds much younger than she actually is. The victim in any kind of trial or hearing doesn't get a lawyer. The allegations are put to Miss Bowen by a presenting officer for the TRA, the lawyer whose job it is to act as a kind of prosecutor.
Miss Bowen tells him that, yes, she did teach at Christ's College School in the late 1980s and she remembers Gareth quite well.
Miss Bowen tells him that, yes, she did teach at Christ's College School in the late 1980s and she remembers Gareth quite well.
Yeah. She says she remembers that Gareth had a crush on her, but she says the feeling was not reciprocated.
Yeah. She says she remembers that Gareth had a crush on her, but she says the feeling was not reciprocated.
Before long, the tribunal arrives at the questions everyone's been waiting for.
Before long, the tribunal arrives at the questions everyone's been waiting for.
As I go through the transcript of the TRA, in the back of my head, I have all the evidence I've been gathering from so many witnesses, and one student in particular, who I managed to get on the phone just before writing this episode.
As I go through the transcript of the TRA, in the back of my head, I have all the evidence I've been gathering from so many witnesses, and one student in particular, who I managed to get on the phone just before writing this episode.