tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post49289273897007951..comments2024-01-25T09:28:56.610+00:00Comments on Confessions of a skeptic: Catherine PepinsterJonathan Westhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00527063732905729010noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-91753958186362333222012-10-18T21:25:49.468+01:002012-10-18T21:25:49.468+01:00As a former pupil (Middle School 1964- Upper Schoo...As a former pupil (Middle School 1964- Upper School 1967) I was quite shocked when I first heard of this scandal, from a teacher at St. Augustines, five years ago. While there obviously is plenty of evidence I for one, experienced no "abuse" whatsoever. Neither was I aware of any of my close friends being mistreated( apart from caning of course). Whilst always proud of my "old school" I think twice now when asked. What a shame!John Blacknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-12844931411517433182012-05-01T12:20:25.496+01:002012-05-01T12:20:25.496+01:00I was a pupil between 1980 and 1987. (from middle ...I was a pupil between 1980 and 1987. (from middle school to u6). A friend of mine who I haven't seen for a while and was also a pupil showed me this blog at the weekend and I have been reading it since. Thank you Jonathan for this blog and thanks to all the ex pupils who have posted their thoughts and experiences. I can confirm what other posters have said about father david, and the outrage I, and some of my friends, felt when he was moved from head of U4 to junior school headmaster. We had thought he was going to be removed following a complaint from a parent about his tea parties, but when we learned he was being "rewarded" with the junior school we worried for the safety of the younger boys. I wish I could remember which boy's parent complained about Father David's tea parties, it would provide some evidence of concerns being raised in the first half of 1983.<br />Like many other posters I am baffled as to why none of the lay teachers raised their concerns when they were so obvious to us children.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-37184000425812720592011-11-16T02:17:12.433+00:002011-11-16T02:17:12.433+00:00I too was at Bennies from 73-85 and we all knew th...I too was at Bennies from 73-85 and we all knew that gay dave was as bent as 9 bob note! I now live in NZ but friends and family have recently alerted me to this story. I too remember the song well! I was taught RE and history by the fella and was in the Cadets. I'm glad the truth is finally out! he fooled a lot of people for a very long time...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-33770290952104341492011-11-10T16:07:38.741+00:002011-11-10T16:07:38.741+00:00I have found the revelations and public denounceme...I have found the revelations and public denouncements about the School both cathartic and a vindication of my own feelings.<br /><br />I was a pupil at the school from 52-62, I have only unhappy memories from that period. Until my children went to school - definitely not St Benedict's - I assumed that school was something that had to be endured. It was confusing for me to see they loved their schools and responded well in them.<br /><br />For many years this has made me reflect upon what was wrong with that place that made me so unhappy or was it in some way my fault ? I was never knowingly sexually abused but noting the comments above about being tested for dryness after games and swimming I realise we all were in some way or other.<br /><br />There was a foul cancer in that place for many years, in my time I recognise this now as a repressive reign of terror. So far from what an education should be.<br /><br />We owe a great debt of thanks to those brave ex-pupils who have stood up to the system and revealed these painful details, their actions will hopefully have stopped this happening in the future . <br /><br />(Note: this comment has been published with one sentence deleted. If the author is concerned about the deletion, you are welcome to email me. JW)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-46762667012604841002011-11-09T22:42:06.957+00:002011-11-09T22:42:06.957+00:00Point of fact: Pearce was appointed novice master ...Point of fact: Pearce was appointed novice master in 2000. I was one of his novices in 2001-02. He was already under some restrictions then, as he was not allowed to enter school premises - a rule which he casually ignored on a number of occasions.ex-Benedictinenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-11284430333331098872011-11-09T17:12:10.922+00:002011-11-09T17:12:10.922+00:00"His success in life has come through his own..."His success in life has come through his own efforts with strong family support and not, I regret to say, from his time at St Benedict’s which made him under achieve and with left him with a contempt for authority."<br /><br />I was at St Benedict's in the early 1980's and this statement could very well describe me.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-37868732076271865892011-11-04T16:31:21.364+00:002011-11-04T16:31:21.364+00:00Totally remember it, but then again we sang it abo...Totally remember it, but then again we sang it about a lot of the teachers but everyone new what he wasAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-23637881266092173212011-11-04T12:16:23.472+00:002011-11-04T12:16:23.472+00:00Surely I'm not the only person who remembers t...Surely I'm not the only person who remembers the "Oh Father David do not touch me" song which was often sung on the rugby bus in the presence and hearing of members of staff. Everyone amongst the boys and staff knew this man was a menace but in the period I was at St B's (74-84) an adult's word was always believed over that of a child. Pearce presented a very plausible face to the outside world hiding his viciousness behind an urbane mask.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-40038577916403478982011-11-04T11:46:22.950+00:002011-11-04T11:46:22.950+00:00It is interesting though how adults were completel...It is interesting though how adults were completely clueless and children within minutes recognised he was a menace.<br /><br />I am intrigued how much more adults/teachers needed to have their suspicions aroused.<br /><br />His checking if you were dry at swimming was not whispered in the hallways. It was well known and the sole reason why many opted out.<br /><br />I remember getting in trouble with my PE teacher at the time and he told me to go and see Fr. David. I said fine but not on my own. To cut it short, the teacher couldn't go with me. So, I refused and nothing more was said about it. Although, the relationship with the teacher who until that point had been one of my favourites was never even close to being the same again.<br /><br />I often wonder what that teacher thinks when he looks back on that instance.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-59296811640752903392011-11-04T10:17:12.985+00:002011-11-04T10:17:12.985+00:0009:44
I take your point. But the fact is that Pear...09:44<br />I take your point. But the fact is that Pearce <i>was</i> well-respected amongst the adults and parents of the parish. He did manage to fool a lot of people for a very long time.Jonathan Westhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00527063732905729010noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6518202135348193859.post-50505597251740607452011-11-04T09:44:53.463+00:002011-11-04T09:44:53.463+00:00Oh please, give me a break.
David Pearce, the &qu...Oh please, give me a break.<br /><br />David Pearce, the "epitome" of "respectability"? "Plausible"??<br /><br />If 12-year-old kids could sense that Gay Dave was weird and steered well clear of him, how naive does an adult have to be to take him unquestioningly as a lifelong friend?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com