Please leave a comment on the film

I attended a minor public school in the mid 1980s where bullying was endemic, the teachers knew it was going on and nobody wanted to do anything about it. Unaccountability is in the very fabric of these schools. I was bullied so badly I had a breakdown (I know now that this is because I have dyslexia and dyspraxia).It took me 14 years to get better. The middle classes need to know that private education is extremely dangerous for the mental health of young children and teenagers. Fortunately there was no sexual abuse at the school (that I know of) but physical bullying can be just as bad.

Posted on 2010 08 24 at 07:02 PM

This film raises many questions and points to changes that MUST be made within our institutions. I know so many victims of abuse, some that occurred in institutions, some committed by individuals. I have heard of places where abuse is so rife and ingrained that it is in the schools, the care homes, and even the within the Police. What hope of escape or justice do children from such areas have?
I think that in order to remove some of children’s vulnerability sex education needs to be taught at a younger age, and I cannot understand why people oppose this. Sex needs to be taught as healthy, natural and normal so that children can identify abuse when it happens.
Abuse is so complex and is generally handled by the media in a confusing way: by stating that abuse always feels and only feels like a violation. Abuse can feel like love, abuse can be welcomed because it feels like love. We are physical beings that respond to physical contact and attention, children included, and understanding this can help ease guilt, blame and feelings of complicity.
I think another crucial flaw in the media is the demonising of peodophiles. Monsters don’t exist, only people who do terrible things. Defining peodophiles as ‘other’, as different to the rest of the human race only makes it less likely that they will be caught. If you are looking for a demon you won’t think to look twice at that charming teacher, that friendly football coach. It also stops people coming forward if they are already or fear they will be a peodophile. Could you come forward and reveal yourself to the world as a monster when actually you just feel like another human being, the same as you always did?

Posted on 2010 08 14 at 11:28 PM

i have only just picked up on this as i googled Peter Wright to find out if he was still alive--i had no idea until now what had happened
I was there at the same time as Alistair and vaguely remember him-thank goodness you guys came out and told the world .
I luckily was not a victim but i knew as everybody did what was going on but nobody wanted to talk about it.
I remember he was constantly and unashamedly running his hands up boys shorts in the classroom and he only did that once to me and i remember pushing his hand away as i was always expecting this to happen and he said something in French to me which i didn’t understand and from that day on i was constantly being picked on by him.I also remember when he moved into his house opposite the school and he would invite his chosen ones back there and everybody suspected what was going on but it was never discussed---those poor kids were obviously terrified to admit to anybody what was happening.
Wright was clever -The parents thought him as a ladies man and he had a few affairs with the mothers which was the other side to him and when pupils tried to tell their parents as i tried to do it was just dismissed as there was ‘no proof’.
He seemed to think as he owned the school it was his territory and he could do as he wished.
I hated my time there due to him-
Nick Clegg was there during his rein i wish he would make a comment on this
Well done and much respect to you guys

Stephen Claydon

Posted on 2010 07 31 at 10:16 AM

I went to a ‘boys public school’ on the Isle of Wight in the 60’s.  This film mirrors so much of my own experience.  The buildings, the stiff upper lip, the cover up as masters vanished mid term, the feeling of incomprehensible fear and isolation.
Being called in the night to a house masters attic room, clad in pajamers and dressing gown, only 12 years old, and being made to strip them off and bend over a chair to be beaten across the buttocks with a cane.  I can still smell the bastard; his sweat, the fags he smoked, the stale seman as he wanked.  It took me years to realise what was happening.  Even today, in my 50’s, I am unable to tell anybody and so hurt my father, now in his late 70’s.
Yes, I to have had murderous thoughts about that master.  I have managed to work much of it through myself; but I can not make any estimate the affect to my personal emotional life, and as a result how my actions have affected various partners over the years.  The ripples spread far and wide.
Thank you for the candour, the courage and the honesty.
NO TEARS FROM ME DURING THIS FINE DOCUMENTARY; JUST ANGER THAT WE WERE POWERLESS THEN AS CHILDREN, AND SORROW AT THE HURT TO OTHERS I HAVE CAUSED BECAUSE OF DAMAGE TO MY EMOTIONAL SOUL.

Posted on 2009 11 25 at 10:28 PM

I just want to say that I think that the 3 gentlemen that told their stories of their abuse at Prep school, are 3 of the bravest men I have ever met.I would love to meet them and shake their hands. I cried and am angry with the way that the system treated them. Alastair, Mark and Tom thank you for what you did to bring the stealing of your childhood out, you are all Hero,s in my book.
I was abused by my Parish Priest.I would love to see a documentary done on what the R.C Church in England is NOT DOING TO HELP Victims.I was abused for nearly 3 years.The R.C. church just do not get it or it is probably they do not care.
Thank you all for this really enlightening program.
Sincerely Noel swift

Posted on 2009 11 11 at 02:29 AM

A truly remarkable documentary,powerful,sensitive,frank,honest and deeply thought provoking.
Three very brave men , discussing things that harmed them so long ago is not easy subject matter for a documentary, Your style of film making made this even more powerful, little in the way of external voices, and perfectly timed cuts between the three victims as they recounted their harrowing experiences.
Well done to True Vision , long may you continue.
And, to any of the three victims who may read this, Thank You for finding the strength to come forward, not only to report what happened to you but also to come forward and be a part of this very moving documentary. Your brave actions will undoubtedly have helped someone else who has had similar experiences to your own.

Posted on 2009 10 25 at 09:02 PM