Chloe Hadjimatheou

So I don't know whether it would surprise you to know that it's been incredibly hard to get people to talk to me for this series.

So I don't know whether it would surprise you to know that it's been incredibly hard to get people to talk to me for this series.

Why?

Why?

The way I found this guy, Gavin, was really just the result of a numbers game. I called so many former Christ College pupils that I was bound to find someone who'd talk to me in the end. And it's a good thing he picked up the phone, because I do need people to talk, to tell me what they remember about Miss Bowen. It's important to say that Gareth's account seems credible to me.

The way I found this guy, Gavin, was really just the result of a numbers game. I called so many former Christ College pupils that I was bound to find someone who'd talk to me in the end. And it's a good thing he picked up the phone, because I do need people to talk, to tell me what they remember about Miss Bowen. It's important to say that Gareth's account seems credible to me.

I've spent hours with him going over his story and he's frank about what he can and can't recall from the time. Even so, memory's a tricky thing, affected by all sorts of factors. Not least that what he remembers was seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old, a child whose lack of experience and judgement could have blurred context or nuance.

I've spent hours with him going over his story and he's frank about what he can and can't recall from the time. Even so, memory's a tricky thing, affected by all sorts of factors. Not least that what he remembers was seen through the eyes of a 14-year-old, a child whose lack of experience and judgement could have blurred context or nuance.

And when he sits in front of me to tell me about Miss Bowen, his memories are almost all he can rely on. There's no ring binder full of hard evidence he can show me. I've tried to follow leads. There was a painter decorator Gareth says was working in Miss Bowen's house once and told him he heard them having sex.

And when he sits in front of me to tell me about Miss Bowen, his memories are almost all he can rely on. There's no ring binder full of hard evidence he can show me. I've tried to follow leads. There was a painter decorator Gareth says was working in Miss Bowen's house once and told him he heard them having sex.

I got as far as tracking down the now deceased landlord's daughter, but she had no idea who her dad might have hired. There are so many avenues like this that just lead to dead ends. Clues and evidence lost in the passage of time. There is one thing, though, that can help both of us.

I got as far as tracking down the now deceased landlord's daughter, but she had no idea who her dad might have hired. There are so many avenues like this that just lead to dead ends. Clues and evidence lost in the passage of time. There is one thing, though, that can help both of us.

Witnesses from the school who could help me work out exactly what happened and why and help Gareth in his quest for justice. And he's adamant there are plenty of them. I'm calling you because... Given how widespread the rumours about Gareth and the chemistry teacher seem to be, I imagined this would be pretty straightforward. I could not have been more wrong.

Witnesses from the school who could help me work out exactly what happened and why and help Gareth in his quest for justice. And he's adamant there are plenty of them. I'm calling you because... Given how widespread the rumours about Gareth and the chemistry teacher seem to be, I imagined this would be pretty straightforward. I could not have been more wrong.

Almost as soon as I start calling round, I hit a wall. And see if you might be able to help me a little bit.

Almost as soon as I start calling round, I hit a wall. And see if you might be able to help me a little bit.

Lots of people respond like this. Weird, but I keep going down the list of people I know. And then friends of friends, until I find Gavin. These days, the work he does helps the police in their hunt for paedophiles and sex abusers. It's something he feels passionately about, and that's why he's agreed to talk to me.

Lots of people respond like this. Weird, but I keep going down the list of people I know. And then friends of friends, until I find Gavin. These days, the work he does helps the police in their hunt for paedophiles and sex abusers. It's something he feels passionately about, and that's why he's agreed to talk to me.

Just like for Gareth, the young, good-looking chemistry teacher made a lasting impression on him.

Just like for Gareth, the young, good-looking chemistry teacher made a lasting impression on him.