Please leave a comment on the film

What a moving documentary. I can’t praise enough the bravery of the participants. I was abused by an itinerant farm worker on my grandparents farm when I was about 8 years old. It was not until I grew up that I realised that this was wrong - this man was kind to me and I looked forward to seeing him. I have terrible feelings of guilt that I did not recognise what he did was wrong. I am female and 56 years old.
Abuse does not just happen in public schools or just to boys. This film has highlighted one area, lets have more exposure in other areas because only then may we learn to recognise the signs and children feel more able to TELL.

Posted on 2008 12 16 at 02:43 PM

I watched the programme last night on Channel 4 and truly felt that it was one of the best documentaries I had ever watched .  Tom Mark and Alastair came over as supremely brave to even contemplate opening up this hornets nest in public.  Since viewing I had constant thought back to the programme and my admiration for the way in which the three victims presented their story.

I went to a similar sort of Prep school about 5 years earlier than they were at school.  Fortunately I was not sexually abused but for certain a great deal of sexual abuse went on and eventually the school was virtually closed down .

Two matters :  In making the programme you seem to have avoided referring to the very harsh discipline that I would imagine was also present at the school.  Whilst I understand that such discipline was regarded as lawful at the time it would have been my understanding that it would have been a part of the grooming scene if only because the victims may have enjoyed some can of protection from the beatings as part of the grooming process.

Second :  Why did the victims not commence some kind of civil action against their abusers.  I am surprised that issues of Statute barring could not be avoided immediately after the criminal proceedings were considered .

Although a complete stranger to the victims please pass on my admiration to them.

Yours sincerely,

Charles K Walford

Posted on 2008 12 16 at 12:29 PM

I used to work at The Harrodian as a teacher but started a few years after 2001, when one of the abusers was tracked down so I never worked with him. I thought the program was extremely moving and that these 3 men are very brave. They were very dignified and articulate about their horific experiences and it brought me to tears.
I am appalled at the fact that The Harrodian showed such lack of empathy with Alastair and felt that they had to talk through their lawyers. That they didnt want to take part in the film, i can understand but to be so unfeeling, I cannot.

Posted on 2008 12 16 at 11:52 AM

This is an amazing film. All the participants must be commended for their sheer bravery in making this, which will undoubtedly do what one of the men said - ensure that the horror stops for other children. As a voluntary counsellor with Childline, I always thought that a child telling someone what had happened was the begining of the end of abuse, even if the road is long. That these men have kept their dignity and have had the courage to make this film shows that despite what they have gone through they possess the best of human qualities. And that is their victory over their abusers.

Posted on 2008 12 16 at 11:39 AM

Outstanding.

My sincerest good wishes to Tom, Alastair and Mark.

Posted on 2008 12 16 at 10:14 AM