Chloe Hadjimatheou

She tells Mark he was in the same year as her husband, at Christ's College Finchley, a boys' comprehensive school that had a pretty good reputation. I was at the girls' school just up the road. This woman asks if Mark remembers her husband, Gareth. Actually, that's not his real name. I can't tell you that for reasons that will become clear pretty soon.

She tells Mark he was in the same year as her husband, at Christ's College Finchley, a boys' comprehensive school that had a pretty good reputation. I was at the girls' school just up the road. This woman asks if Mark remembers her husband, Gareth. Actually, that's not his real name. I can't tell you that for reasons that will become clear pretty soon.

The rumours were about what happened between this guy Gareth and a teacher at the school. His wife is calling Mark because Gareth needs witnesses and he remembers Mark because they were both misfits.

The rumours were about what happened between this guy Gareth and a teacher at the school. His wife is calling Mark because Gareth needs witnesses and he remembers Mark because they were both misfits.

And because Gareth remembers Mark suffered at the school, just like he did, he thinks Mark might be more likely to help him out. Mark and Gareth end up having several long conversations, sometimes late into the night. Rewinding to the 1980s and playing out their school days. Who had a fight with who? The fact that caning was still allowed in their first few years.

And because Gareth remembers Mark suffered at the school, just like he did, he thinks Mark might be more likely to help him out. Mark and Gareth end up having several long conversations, sometimes late into the night. Rewinding to the 1980s and playing out their school days. Who had a fight with who? The fact that caning was still allowed in their first few years.

Which teachers would use it and which would just throw books at you or clip you round the ear. About the hours after school spent sitting on buses smoking cigarettes... Or hanging around Golders Green station trying to look cool and get the attention of girls. Memories of that sweet time in the early years when they were still blank slates.

Which teachers would use it and which would just throw books at you or clip you round the ear. About the hours after school spent sitting on buses smoking cigarettes... Or hanging around Golders Green station trying to look cool and get the attention of girls. Memories of that sweet time in the early years when they were still blank slates.

And then they talk about the real reason they were having this call. What happened between Gareth and this teacher at Christ's College.

And then they talk about the real reason they were having this call. What happened between Gareth and this teacher at Christ's College.

The first time Mark tells me about all this, that this former classmate of his, Gareth, had called him out the blue to talk about how he'd been sexually abused by his teacher at the age of 14. I have to admit, I immediately jumped to what I thought was a pretty obvious conclusion, that the teacher carrying out the abuse had been a man. It's an easy assumption to make.

The first time Mark tells me about all this, that this former classmate of his, Gareth, had called him out the blue to talk about how he'd been sexually abused by his teacher at the age of 14. I have to admit, I immediately jumped to what I thought was a pretty obvious conclusion, that the teacher carrying out the abuse had been a man. It's an easy assumption to make.

Most abusers tend to be male. And recently I've been hearing more and more of these cases about boys being abused in boarding schools and churches. But this is not that story. Because in this case, the abuser was a woman.

Most abusers tend to be male. And recently I've been hearing more and more of these cases about boys being abused in boarding schools and churches. But this is not that story. Because in this case, the abuser was a woman.

So the sort of, the implication was... It was his fantasy and he got to fulfil his fantasy. Yeah. What's he complaining about?

So the sort of, the implication was... It was his fantasy and he got to fulfil his fantasy. Yeah. What's he complaining about?

All Mark remembers from back then was rumours. But what I want to know is, were there people who saw stuff who can give me a better idea of what really happened? So I get him to ask round. He tells me there are WhatsApp groups where loads of old boys, now men, still stay in touch. And he's happy to connect me.

All Mark remembers from back then was rumours. But what I want to know is, were there people who saw stuff who can give me a better idea of what really happened? So I get him to ask round. He tells me there are WhatsApp groups where loads of old boys, now men, still stay in touch. And he's happy to connect me.

What about Gareth? I don't remember him, but Mark's sure I knew him back when we were kids.

What about Gareth? I don't remember him, but Mark's sure I knew him back when we were kids.