Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

I agree with Marty re Shrewsbury playing things down. Wasn’t the Head one of Dobbie’s character witnesses? On a slight tangent, I listened to the first episode of a podcast called And The Band Played On, about a school in Canada with both allegations and convictions of sexual assualts by teachers go...

Makes sense, thanks Richard. I was going by this definition, which I hadn’t come across before https://simple.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephebophilia

I hope this post doesn’t cause offence, it’s something I’ve been curious about for a while. Dobbie is often referred to as a paedophile, however would the term hebephile or ephebophile be more accurate considering the age of his victims? Clearly they are all offences that have rightly landed him on ...

richardb wrote: ↑Mon May 06, 2019 11:27 pm I am going to see if I can get there.

Depends on the diary. Plus the fact it is a 600 mile round trip.

That’s dedication!

Is anyone able to attend the trial?

Unfortunately work, a young family and geography all prevent me from doing so.

All very good points. Children at CH were often more vulnerable than most.

And yes, I believe full disclosure and understanding of all that happened is needed for many people, and indeed the institution itself, to move on.

There is likely much that has been reported that cannot result in arrests as occurred before 2003 and therefore deemed consensual.

Am I right in thinking that a relationship with a pupil wasn’t illegal until 2003? I guess grooming a girl over the age of 16 until she consents to sex wouldn’t have been an offence prior to that date. Speaking in very general terms and about nobody in particular, of course. That is actually a very...

Am I right in thinking that a relationship with a pupil wasn’t illegal until 2003? I guess grooming a girl over the age of 16 until she consents to sex wouldn’t have been an offence prior to that date.

Speaking in very general terms and about nobody in particular, of course.

The trouble is that no enquiry could force people to attend or witnesses to testify. There would be no incentive for those involved to be truthful and it’s hard to see how effective it could be. I don’t know what the answer is, but I get angry every time I think of Poulton’s smug face at the trials...

He wasn’t convicted and is still head teacher now. Which I have no opposition to. Those who are convicted and are proven to have done things deserve everything they get, but the system also catches out people who are factually innocent or against whom there is no proof of any wrongdoing, whose live...

I noticed that Trex. I wonder whether people just forget he’s on there as he’s likely been inactive for a while.

The other chaplain is back in Australia and I believe still at a school there. I was wondering whether she gave evidence this time around as there was a comment about a video link witness making logistics complicated.

Edited with a correction- I believe the Chaplain May have retired after ill health.

The rumour was that it was a domestic issue rather than accusations involving pupils. But, as Bob said, he wasn’t convicted and is still head teacher now.

The trouble is that no enquiry could force people to attend or witnesses to testify. There would be no incentive for those involved to be truthful and it’s hard to see how effective it could be. I don’t know what the answer is, but I get angry every time I think of Poulton’s smug face at the trials...