Chloe Hadjimatheou

And even though they're always so careful not to give anything away, Gareth and Miss Bowen look up at each other for a second. A quick eye roll, a kind of, isn't Ben an idiot? He's got no idea about us. It's just a tiny intimate glance that passes between them.

He isn't sure who Ben tells, but over time, Gareth's convinced that rumours have spread to other pupils and even the teachers, although no-one actually confronts him about it.

He isn't sure who Ben tells, but over time, Gareth's convinced that rumours have spread to other pupils and even the teachers, although no-one actually confronts him about it.

Until this one day when someone breaks the silence. And the thing that really freaks him out is that it's a teacher and a good friend of Miss Bowen's at the school, Heather MacIsaac.

Until this one day when someone breaks the silence. And the thing that really freaks him out is that it's a teacher and a good friend of Miss Bowen's at the school, Heather MacIsaac.

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.