Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

Posted: **Tue Jul 17, 2018 7:09 pm**

Whether or not management were aware of the specific acts of abuse, Dobbie's grooming activities (which in themselves were wholly inappropriate even by the standards of the time) were certainly common knowledge.

Anyone in Mid A in the mid to late 90's will remember some of the bizarre things he was allowed to get away with: individually photographing everyone in the house for unspecified reasons, extra-curricular art appreciation groups in his study dedicated exclusively to Lucien Freud nudes including the memorable advice that this was what our mothers looked like, the portrait he commissioned of a particular boy, the well documented alcohol dispensing to favourites late at night in his flat are just some that come immediately to mind. There are many others.

Far from hiding any of this type of activity, he revelled in it. He peacocked around the school like a public school teacher peadophile from central casting. The idea that his conviction came as a surprise to anyone in the school at the time is laughable. Most of my contemporaries in Mid A from the time would readily be able to identify his "type" even down to his preferred hair colour.

The common reaction to finding out two teachers had been arrested for offences in the 90's was not to wonder which two teachers they were, it was just to wonder who the other one was.

Posted: **Tue Jul 17, 2018 7:41 pm**

Maddleton wrote: ↑Tue Jul 17, 2018 7:09 pm Whether or not management were aware of the specific acts of abuse, Dobbie's grooming activities (which in themselves were wholly inappropriate even by the standards of the time) were certainly common knowledge.

Anyone in Mid A in the mid to late 90's will remember some of the bizarre things he was allowed to get away with:.......

Back in 89-90, kids were openly drinking in Dobbies chaplains house every weekend, watching 18 cert films, generally a weird, inappropriate atmosphere which I didn't hang around for. It had been happening for a while by then as far as I knew. Staff must have known as most of the older kids did.

I can't think of a less appropriate house tutor than Dobbie apart from the master (Webb?) who the whole school called pedo and who was promoted a year or two after. Its farcical. What's the opposite of safeguarding again?

Posted: **Tue Jul 17, 2018 7:53 pm**

Maddleton wrote: ↑Tue Jul 17, 2018 7:09 pm The common reaction to finding out two teachers had been arrested for offences in the 90's was not to wonder which two teachers they were, it was just to wonder who the other one was.

Exactly, that was certainly my reaction. When considering who the other one was it wasn't those names already known which sprung to mind either.

Posted: **Tue Jul 17, 2018 11:04 pm**

Somewhat ironically, given the current circumstances he finds himself in, I remember him referring to the ‘inmates of Middleton A’. I suppose these days he will be getting to know the inmates from C Wing.

Posted: **Tue Jul 17, 2018 11:13 pm**

The only thing I remember him reading in Chapel was a piece about a man spending his first night in prison, who initially feels a sense of optimism, but then is overwhelmed by despair! Ironic

just found it online.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HTl ... or&f=false

Posted: **Tue Jul 17, 2018 11:17 pm**

LHA wrote: ↑Tue Jul 17, 2018 11:13 pm The only thing I remember him reading in Chapel was a piece about a man spending his first night in prison, who initially feels a sense of optimism, but then is overwhelmed by despair! Ironic

just found it online.
https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=HTl ... or&f=false

Was he looking in a crystal ball when he read it?

Posted: **Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:09 pm**

Not commenting. Just FYI.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/16361896 ... -pupil-10/

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/vi ... 1002787338

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... r-old.html

Posted: **Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:34 pm**

Is that the same day as Karim's sentencing?

Posted: **Wed Jul 18, 2018 2:02 pm**

No. Karim is being sentenced on 9 August.

Posted: **Wed Jul 18, 2018 2:49 pm**

marty wrote: ↑Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:09 pm Not commenting. Just FYI.
https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/vi ... 1002787338

I’d recognise that walk anywhere.

Posted: **Wed Jul 18, 2018 4:44 pm**

marty wrote: ↑Wed Jul 18, 2018 1:09 pm Not commenting. Just FYI.

http://www.theargus.co.uk/news/16361896 ... -pupil-10/

https://www.gettyimages.co.uk/detail/vi ... 1002787338

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... r-old.html

Here is RM as a Grecian, sandwiching Cherny and his crew with his contemporary Barnard (thank you Julian):

viewtopic.php?f=49&t=2601

Barnard (last remembered from RAF CCF Corps Camp tent at Cottesmore 1953) and Martin were contemporaries and friends of mine. RM was a (notably clever) form-mate until our paths separated as Deps (Arts vs Science).

Posted: **Wed Jul 18, 2018 5:50 pm**

Maddleton wrote: ↑Tue Jul 17, 2018 7:09 pm Whether or not management were aware of the specific acts of abuse, Dobbie's grooming activities (which in themselves were wholly inappropriate even by the standards of the time) were certainly common knowledge.

Anyone in Mid A in the mid to late 90's will remember some of the bizarre things he was allowed to get away with: individually photographing everyone in the house for unspecified reasons, extra-curricular art appreciation groups in his study dedicated exclusively to Lucien Freud nudes including the memorable advice that this was what our mothers looked like, the portrait he commissioned of a particular boy, the well documented alcohol dispensing to favourites late at night in his flat are just some that come immediately to mind. There are many others.

Far from hiding any of this type of activity, he revelled in it. He peacocked around the school like a public school teacher peadophile from central casting. The idea that his conviction came as a surprise to anyone in the school at the time is laughable. Most of my contemporaries in Mid A from the time would readily be able to identify his "type" even down to his preferred hair colour.

The common reaction to finding out two teachers had been arrested for offences in the 90's was not to wonder which two teachers they were, it was just to wonder who the other one was.

afraid the exact same can be said for those of us who were there in the 00's too. granted I had links to the 90's via family but was still fairly widespread knowledge.

been a while since i've posted here - but wanted to say that the discussion here is SIGNIFICANTLY more enlightening than reading anything trotted out in the press and wanted to thank the efforts of all members to bring the facts to the forefront in these difficult cases.

Posted: **Wed Jul 18, 2018 6:04 pm**

Re: Management knowledge of the Husband/Dobbie cases
Post by postwarblue » Wed Jul 18, 2018 4:44 pm

......... RM was a (notably clever) form-mate

plus, as a master: humane, generous and diligent with a tremendous ability for teaching.

Posted: **Wed Nov 21, 2018 11:51 am**

Just a thought...but has there been any discussion as to whether CH ought to be included in the Residential Schools investigation as part of the Independent Inquiry Child Sexual Abuse (IICSA) ?

Posted: **Wed Nov 21, 2018 5:03 pm**

I believe the school has petitioned to be included