Chloe Hadjimatheou

Another potential witness. She's one of the teachers who's invested time and effort in Gareth. She talks to him with respect and he likes her. So this day, the first time an adult actually acknowledges what he's been up to with a teacher, it's really etched on his memory.

Another potential witness. She's one of the teachers who's invested time and effort in Gareth. She talks to him with respect and he likes her. So this day, the first time an adult actually acknowledges what he's been up to with a teacher, it's really etched on his memory.

Miss MacIsaac turns the corner and walks up towards him. And as she approaches him, she lowers her voice.

Miss MacIsaac turns the corner and walks up towards him. And as she approaches him, she lowers her voice.

And she says, it's not right what you two are doing. I don't agree with it. Then she just walks away. Gareth's frozen. He doesn't say a word. He's terrified of anything that might risk what he's got going on with Miss Bowen. But when he stops to think about it later, he realises he's got nothing to worry about. After all, Miss MacIsaac and Miss Bowen are really good friends.

And she says, it's not right what you two are doing. I don't agree with it. Then she just walks away. Gareth's frozen. He doesn't say a word. He's terrified of anything that might risk what he's got going on with Miss Bowen. But when he stops to think about it later, he realises he's got nothing to worry about. After all, Miss MacIsaac and Miss Bowen are really good friends.

She's not going to grass them up. Nearly 30 years later, when Gareth's looking for witnesses, Heather MacIsaac will say she has no memory of this. That as far as she's concerned, none of it ever happened. At this point, it's fair to assume that at least some of the teachers had suspicions about what was going on. As far as we know, they did nothing to put a stop to it.

She's not going to grass them up. Nearly 30 years later, when Gareth's looking for witnesses, Heather MacIsaac will say she has no memory of this. That as far as she's concerned, none of it ever happened. At this point, it's fair to assume that at least some of the teachers had suspicions about what was going on. As far as we know, they did nothing to put a stop to it.

In fact, there's only one person who ever really tried to blow the whistle on that relationship between Gareth and Miss Bowen. And she had nothing to do with the school.

In fact, there's only one person who ever really tried to blow the whistle on that relationship between Gareth and Miss Bowen. And she had nothing to do with the school.

This is Gareth's mum. I've changed all the names of Gareth's family members to protect his identity. And so I'm calling his mum Philippa. So, you know, you were quite close. Very. And then this thing happened. Yeah. And it changed the relationship. It did. Totally.

This is Gareth's mum. I've changed all the names of Gareth's family members to protect his identity. And so I'm calling his mum Philippa. So, you know, you were quite close. Very. And then this thing happened. Yeah. And it changed the relationship. It did. Totally.

Philippa's got short, stylish white hair. She looks far younger than her 82 years. When did you first find out that there was some kind of relationship with a teacher? Do you remember what the first thing was? I think it was my son. Her older son, Freddie. Gareth's the youngest of four kids. There's only two and a half years between Freddie and Gareth, but lots of distance.

Philippa's got short, stylish white hair. She looks far younger than her 82 years. When did you first find out that there was some kind of relationship with a teacher? Do you remember what the first thing was? I think it was my son. Her older son, Freddie. Gareth's the youngest of four kids. There's only two and a half years between Freddie and Gareth, but lots of distance.

They don't talk anymore, and Freddie didn't want to be involved in this podcast. One evening, back in the late spring of 1988, Philip has just come home from work when Freddie says he needs to talk to her. There are rumours going round the school, he tells her. I was worried sick. So she waits for Gareth to get home and asks where he's been.

They don't talk anymore, and Freddie didn't want to be involved in this podcast. One evening, back in the late spring of 1988, Philip has just come home from work when Freddie says he needs to talk to her. There are rumours going round the school, he tells her. I was worried sick. So she waits for Gareth to get home and asks where he's been.

He says what he always says, that he's been with his mates in Hendon, but she's not having any of it. Was she shocked that these rumours were going around?

He says what he always says, that he's been with his mates in Hendon, but she's not having any of it. Was she shocked that these rumours were going around?

So you stopped talking to your mum and you pulled away from her?

So you stopped talking to your mum and you pulled away from her?