Can anyone please help Gemma to deal with her childhood trauma?

This is a question for ladies of mature years who may have attended primary schools, Ysgol Gynradd Trawsfynydd (now Ysgol Bro Hedd Wyn) or Ysgol Gellilydan (now Ysgol Edmwnd Prys)  in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area in the 1970s. Maybe also men who were children then and recall strange “goings on” in either of the schools.

Gemma is now a lady in her 60s who is trying to deal with the trauma of sexual abuse as an 8 and 9 year old that she has never been able to forget or process. 

“I have no recollection when or how it started. The abuse happened within the classroom in front of all my fellow pupils. Mr …………….. would call me up to his desk in order to mark my work. When standing behind the large pedestal desk by his right side (the event which took place is too distressing to be shared on social media). This event happened whilst he was talking to me about the work within my exercise book.

I would sometimes look out over the classroom watching my fellow pupils with their heads down working on the assignment given while I was suffering silently.

I wished with all my heart that someone would walk past the little internal window on the wall behind his desk and notice where his hand was but no one ever did.

I also pleaded with my family to buy me tights in order to prevent his access to my body but I was never given any as they preferred me to wear white knee high socks.

My childhood ended during this period of my life as men became dangerous adults to be wary of.

I was not the only pupil to suffer within my class, my friend would be asked to stand on the right side of his desk also (I took this request by him as a sign that she was also suffering as I did.)  We never discussed his secretive behaviour openly.

We were both placed to sit next to each other by the classroom door. This enabled him to walk into the classroom bending down and sliding his hand up our skirt/dress as he walked into the room greeting everyone.

As I get older I realise that my burden does not get lighter with age and I do not want to take this secret with me to my grave when I die.  Please contact my solicitor Katherine Yates if you have any information that may help me”.

We need information please from people who were pupils at either of these schools in the 1970s.  Were you a pupil at either school and did you witness any of the behaviour described?  We are not naming the abuser publicly at this stage.  He is deceased and died in the late 1970s.  His death has not helped Gemma deal with her trauma. 

Please share this blog as widely as possible.

For many survivors, hearing an account like this can stir emotions that have remained buried for years. Some may have felt unable to speak out previously because of fear, shame or concerns that they would not be believed. Others may only now be beginning to understand the impact that the abuse has had on their lives. Other people may have witnessed incidents that they have also buried but which may help us put the jigsaw together and see how wide spread this abuse was in these schools.

Andrew Grove & Co Solicitors specialises in representing survivors of historic sexual abuse and bringing civil compensation claims against organisations, including churches, local authorities and children’s homes.

We understand that taking the first step can feel overwhelming and that every survivor's experience is different, but we believe every that every survivor deserves to be heard and claims investigated.

If you experienced abuse at either of the establishments named above (or any other establishment) or witnessed anything connected to it please contact Katherine Yates at Andrew Grove & Co Solicitors on 01223 367133 or 07810 224545 or by email at katherine@andrewgroveandco.com for a confidential discussion.