Barwick House School
A Memory of Barwick.
Barwick House as shown in the photographs on this site is sadly no more although the building is still standing and is now being used as luxury apartments, this is as a result of the school (which previously occupied it) going bankrupt in 1987, the school was run by a Major Gray and his wife. I was a pupil there from September 9th 1977 to May 25th 1979 and I was glad to learn of its closure as a school although it wasn't until April 2010 that I actually learned of this development. I say that I was glad because my memories of my stay at the school are not happy ones, my memories of my time at Barwick House are of abuse and suffering and I am delighted that the school is no more and that the abusing monster who ran it is almost certainly now dead.
I am updating this entry to inform you all that Major Gray IS dead and may he rot in whatever form of hell he ended up in.
Additionally, I learned from Avon and Somerset Police that one of the teachers (I don't remember which one) is now serving life in Broadmoor for murder, he has no chance of ever being released.
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Please don't give up in the search for justice if you suffered as I did along with many others, Justice will be served.
I am in touch with a TV reporter from ITV who is doing an investigative piece about the school, his name is Ken Goodwin and his email address is ken.goodwin@itv.com
The art teacher? When I was there she was a horny brunette with a white Toyota Celica GT or it could have been a white MGB GT, I honestly can't remember.
I don't recall which dormitory you were in, I was in the one above Gray's office along with John Fox, Joe DiMouchio and Steven Friend.
I suffered a great deal at that hell hole, so much so that I needed a psychiatrist later in life to help me cope with the fallout of being there, the nightmares, the flashbacks, I still have them and at 54 years of age, I still have psychiatric care, that plus a loving wife who does understand, she must do because we have been together for 20 years and she still loves me.
If ever you feel the need to get it off of your chest then just message me and I will be happy to help if I can.
I know exactly what you are going through. I actually sought help and found it in the form of Dr. Jaab Hamelijnck, a Dutch psychiatrist and he helped me immensely, not only with the trauma of having gone to that hell hole of a "School" but also in a diagnosis of A.D.H.D and later on, Clinical Depression with Moderate to Severe Suicidal Tendencies, all associated with my experience of that school, well all but the A.D.H.D, that's genetic.
Anyway, suffice to say that now, at 54 years of age, I have had a hard life although my wife of 20 years has been there for me during the horrors of the flashbacks and the night frights and panic attacks but I am still here, surviving when other kids that I was at that school with are now no longer with us due to suicide.
Keep strong, keep going, survive because if you do, that cunt Grey and his psychotic wife will not have broken you.
My torment came in the form of Mr. Travers and Manc, they were total cunts and that is being insulting to cunts because they were worse than cunts. I endured being beaten several times a week, being stripped naked and left in the basement cells for days at a time and even being stabbed in the arm, I wish that I had told my father, I think that he would have killed them but alas, I didn't and he is now dead, 37 years tomorrow in fact.
Billy, it is great that we can communicate, please feel free any time. Graeme.
I will always remember on one occasion when one of the kids there if i can remember right his name was Desmond Charrington was caught stealing he went into the Majors side of the house and got caught. I have never known any one take such a beaten as that kid. his arms were put on the wooden arms of a chair and beaten until his whole arms were black. I think he also had some broken ribs.A black and swollen face he was then padlocked in one of the rooms on the top floor where he stayed for weeks.
That place definitely left some bad memories for me. Hopefully it hasn't affected you to badly.
I was just reading through some of the posts when I suddenly remembered a giant of a kid although I don't remember his name but everyone called him Sasquatch, a name which he didn't seem to mind and whilst I have been writing this post I have also remembered another kid, well two actually, Graham Martindale, he was a tiny kid and was often bullied, I liked him, he was a kind of kindred spirit and then there was another boy whose name I can't remember but everyone called him "Dripping Eye" because of a defect in one of his pupils, a cruel name which he hated but then hey, we were kids and it shames me to think that I also called him that.
Does anyone remember that really tall woman who ran the laundry? Her husband was a short arsed arsewipe, they looked ridiculous together.
Look, we are all survivors of this fucking hell hole and we have a bond of sorts as a result. If any of you want to contact me then write to me at meister268@gmail.com
I don't do any drugs now, I haven't done so for more than 30 years but I know that some of the kids did die as a result of drugs after leaving that school, I won't name the two that I know of out of respect for them and their families but it happened, the school has a nasty legacy.
Does anyone remember Garry Stretch? Garry was there 1979 - 1984.
Garry still lives on the Isle of Wight, but right now he's staying with us. He is going through therapy and is in our area to maybe visit Midelney as part of his therapy.
My wife stumbled upon this site whilst researching for Garry.
I am writing on his behalf because reading all your posts has sent shivers through him.
He remembers many of you and would like to reach out for friendship, support or just a chat.
We would also be grateful for any further details about the Avon and Somerset enquiry and the ITV deal.
Please write to Garry via jandsbutten@yahoo.com
I am sure he will respond once he knows someone wants to touch base. But in the meantime, I will forward any and all emails to him.
Garry is here in Somerton until Friday 16th February so a phone call could be arranged while he is with us, so he has good support.
I didn't go to either of these schools but I do have similar demons.
Be strong, be true, be just.
Cheers
Johnny Butten
On behalf of Garry Stretch
I know most of you commenting here went to Barwick but maybe these names will mean something.
Tom - worked in the stables (his wife did the tack room
Toni? Housewife, lived in Blackwater
Major Gray (nothing more to say)
Maggie - worked in kitchens?
Craig, split left eye pupil, 'dripping eye' (lived with Tom from the stables)
Mr Johnson - housemaster
Gerry Batten
John Travis (Embassy Number 6) - works department
Mrs Marsh - Art
Mrs Foster - English
Mrs Forster - Pottery
Mrs Light - Head of education
Mrs Grundy - Geography
Mr Bruce Bond - Maths or Art, not sure.
Other 'inmates'
Darren Tristan
Mark Burrows
Neil ? - tall guy, big ears
Ian Samuelson
Charlie Reese
Big Ben
Cheers
i was the first person to be locked in the cell he had built in the washroom/cloakroom. During my time there i ran away three times because of the regime. it was after being brought back after the 2nd time i was placed in the cell which the major said he had built just for me at the time. I was in it for over a week. I wasn't there long enough to recall many names, Noel Tinsley. David Fearon, Brandy are the only names that sping to mind. I remember Noel as he was the first person i saw on my arrival to the place. He was digging a hole to put up a flag pole. The major encouraged bullying and gave out ciggies for the winner of any fights.The only bright moments was canoeing and rowing. I hear the major is dead and so to his wife, but what about his daughter? She worked in the stables if i remember rightly. The punishments was cruel especially for those most vunerable. I was at one time then i learnt to fight back. Sadly i took the wrong route in life.
I still remember the major coming to the cell at nights to taunt me saying "Ellis your going to borstal" I ended in borstal a year later. He was entrusted by social services who in turn was entrusted by our parents to guide and nurture us.
God Bless you guys who've added your comments.
Whatever the school was like and some of the staff I will never forget the friends I made there nor the crazy shit we use to get up to and I have a confession to make to you all and especially Major Gray's Daughter I can on make in person... :) .. and whats with slagging off Mr Waddy... the greatest scientist of all time (except for the professor in Back to the Future)... he is solely responsible for my life long interest in photography something my son inherited as he is now doing what I really wanted to do professionally.... Graeme Claridge I remember you well ... I think we spent a lot of time climbing those fuck-off trees we had around .... and I'm sure you were in the same dorm as me....
Chin up Guy's ... shit happens!
Travis was a cunt, pure and simple but then so was Manc, even more of a cunt in my opinion, he actually encouraged that shit Hussein Kamal to attack me but hey, I got my own back the day before I left that school for good, he got what was coming to him in the form of a piece of 4x2 from the boat shed, right across his shoulders, it broke his scapula but hey, enough of that as I am not a violent man, I only acted out of revenge.
I have put my email address out there for anyone who feels the need to unload their troubles as resulting from their time at that school, one of you has taken me up on that offer, all are welcome so use it and gain comfort in the knowledge that a fellow pupil of that hell hole has your back.
Pete
I'm 43 now and reading these comments are horrendous & have made me feel quite sick to read.
I have read all comments, and am a little confused what my dad was known as but have an idea, unfortunately. Could you please reply to my personal email & let me know zoegreen2@hotmail.com.
He is either known as John Travis (embassy no6) because that is his first 2 names and he was a chain smoker. Or! Mr Travers, maybe someone forgot Travis or, & I really hope not!! Manc, cos he was from the north. (I really hope it wasn't manc!) But, if it was I will deal with it.
Also to let you know Travis died 29 January 2007. Aged 56.
I have just been reading some of the comments, some of which are by people whom I didn't know as I wasn't there when they were but nonetheless, I was able to relate to them.
I have put my email address at the top of this post in order to provide a listening ear to anyone who needs one, I know that many old boys from that shit hole suffered as I did and I just want to let you know that I am always available if you need me.
I am sorry to say that the police investigation into the happenings at Barwick House and Middleney Place came to nothing, the last that I heard from Avon and Somerset Police was that all of the staff involve were now dead, all except for one, I don't remember his name but you can take solace that he will die in prison, he is currently serving 11 life sentences in HMP Broadmoor.
Once again, if any of you need me to unload on, use my email.
07508082875 ashleygoudou@yahoo if you was one of the bully's that maid my life hell for 3 years and scared me for life an apologia would help it wasn't only egg head it was you too you run his dirty work you hit me beat me and kicked hell out of me in sea cadets id like to tell you know I'm not scared off you and when i hear BLM i always remember the 3 notaries bullies that ever walked this earth all brothers i believe from London