Chloe Hadjimatheou

At some point, I move on from friends of friends to WhatsApp groups where old boys stay in touch. I'm starting to work my way through them, sending messages to one person after another, until it comes to the attention of the administrator.

My friends forward me the voice memo he posts to the group.

My friends forward me the voice memo he posts to the group.

I even managed to get hold of two former pupils who are headmasters today. Neither of them want to be part of this podcast, not even anonymously. The problem is that Gareth was a misfit, an outsider, and he wasn't much liked by many of his classmates. As far as these guys are concerned, Gareth was lucky enough to end up with this teacher that they all fancied, and now he's complaining about it.

I even managed to get hold of two former pupils who are headmasters today. Neither of them want to be part of this podcast, not even anonymously. The problem is that Gareth was a misfit, an outsider, and he wasn't much liked by many of his classmates. As far as these guys are concerned, Gareth was lucky enough to end up with this teacher that they all fancied, and now he's complaining about it.

So even if they do know something, they aren't super keen to corroborate his story. Of course, there would be no need for witnesses if the school had carried out a proper investigation into the allegations back then. But maybe they did investigate, informally.

So even if they do know something, they aren't super keen to corroborate his story. Of course, there would be no need for witnesses if the school had carried out a proper investigation into the allegations back then. But maybe they did investigate, informally.

Around the end of June or beginning of July 1988, Gareth meets Miss Bowen after school as usual, but on this particular day, he finds her white as a sheet and really shaken up.

Around the end of June or beginning of July 1988, Gareth meets Miss Bowen after school as usual, but on this particular day, he finds her white as a sheet and really shaken up.

Miss Bowen tells Gareth the meeting was with four men. The headmaster, but also Des Tinch, the yearhead who Gareth's mum's been trying to engage with. There's another male teacher there and a man she doesn't recognise. The four of them confront her about the rumours and when she tries to deny it, they say, don't bother because we know.

Miss Bowen tells Gareth the meeting was with four men. The headmaster, but also Des Tinch, the yearhead who Gareth's mum's been trying to engage with. There's another male teacher there and a man she doesn't recognise. The four of them confront her about the rumours and when she tries to deny it, they say, don't bother because we know.

She can finish the last few weeks of the summer term, they tell her, but after the summer holidays, her contract won't be renewed.

She can finish the last few weeks of the summer term, they tell her, but after the summer holidays, her contract won't be renewed.

At this point in the conversation, Miss Bowen and Gareth are on their usual route, walking from the bus stop to her house.

At this point in the conversation, Miss Bowen and Gareth are on their usual route, walking from the bus stop to her house.

This account about the meeting comes third-hand. It's what Gareth remembers Miss Bowen telling him. But an agreement does seem to have been reached in that room between the male teachers and Miss Bowen. You leave quietly... And that will be the end of the matter. If that meeting did happen as Miss Bowen described it, I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall.

This account about the meeting comes third-hand. It's what Gareth remembers Miss Bowen telling him. But an agreement does seem to have been reached in that room between the male teachers and Miss Bowen. You leave quietly... And that will be the end of the matter. If that meeting did happen as Miss Bowen described it, I'd have loved to have been a fly on the wall.

Did they ever even consider reporting Miss Bowen to the authorities? Was she panicking at this point?

Did they ever even consider reporting Miss Bowen to the authorities? Was she panicking at this point?

Just a few days later, Gareth finds himself alone in a room with one of those men who told Miss Bowen she had to go. It's his weekly counselling session with Mr Tinch. What would you talk about in the sessions with Tinch?