JUNE 28, 2012 7

By RICHARD EVANS
Tel. 01492 574481
MORE allegations of sexual and
physical abuse at a Colwyn Bay
school duringthe 1970s and80s have
emerged this week, including evid-
ence from a former teacher.
Last week the Weekly News reported
how two former pupils at Rydal claimed
they had suffered the worst kind of
sexual abuse during their years at the
boarding school, dating back to the early
1970s.
Now Rydal has received further com-
plaints of abuse occurring up until the
mid-1980s involving a former member of
staff who is now deceased.
More than one member of staff is
accused by the former pupils, but all are
now dead.
Former pupils Alexander Curzon and
Jonathan Andrews both attended the
school on Pwllycrochan Avenue during
the 1970s andclaimtheywere repeatedly
sexually abused.
The Weekly News also heardfromthree
other former pupils claiming to have
witnessed the abuse.
And this week another former pupil
has come forward claiming to have
sufferedabuse during the 1980s, as well a
former pupil who claims they witnessed
abuse and attended the school in the
1970s.
A mum, now in her 40s and who
attended the school in the 1980s, now
lives in the North West of England and
claimed the abuse had left her emo-
tionally damaged.
X used to touch the boys and girls in
lessons. He hadeverybodyterrified, she
said.
In classes when he would put his
hands down someones shirt, everybody
would put their heads down and laugh
because you didnt want to be next. He
was so nasty youdidnt want to be one of
the ones he disliked, you wanted to be
one of his favourites.
He used to tell me I needed extra
lessons toget me onmyownafter school.
He usedtoundomybrastraps andgrope
me. It wasuncomfortable. Healsousedto
take us out on day trips alone.
Id become more and more reclusive.
WhenI first joinedtheschool I was inthe
A and B sets, but by the end I was in a
remedial class. I had given up.
John Lipscomb, 51, is now a drug and
alcohol charity worker living in New-
port, South Wales, but attended the
school between 1973-78.
John said he had seen abuse take place
on several occasions.
I sawX abuse people inclass. I would
regularly see people victimised and it
was quite clear he was inappropriately
touching them, he said.
I canremember X grabbing pupils in
class. I cant remember who he grabbed,
Im almost certain he never grabbed
me.
Hed put his hand inside their shirt
and lift the pupil partly out of their seat.
He trapped themin a grip with his hand
in their shirt and his armjammed them
under their chin. This would have been
between September 1973 and July 1976.
A former teacher at the school, who
wishes to remainanonymous, said there
had been a culture of humiliation and
fear at the school at that time.
I would like to express my admiration
for the Weekly News article which made
public what was always known to be a
troubled period in the life of Rydal,
dominatedbybullying andinhumanity,
she said.
The coming of girls put paid to a lot of
this culture of humiliation and fear. I
hope youwill take this researchas far as
it can go, for the sake of those who spent
so long in such difficult circumstances
and also for those of us who came after
and had to make sense of long shad-
ows.
Rydal Penrhos current headteacher
Patrick Lee-Browne said: I should re-
iterate the fact the allegations made by
Mr Curzon and others as reported in the
Weekly News are historic, relating to a
period up to 40 years ago.
No staff or pupils currently at the
school are implicated in the allegations,
and there is no suggestion there is any
abuse in the school currently.
The schools own investigation into
the allegations is ongoing, and the evid-
ence of all other former pupils who
present it to the school has beenand will
be included in the investigation.
Mr Curzons allegations have been
supported by other former pupils, but
there is also evidence from former staff
and pupils that contradicts those al-
legations.
The school has invited Mr Curzon
formally to report this matter to the
police and despite Mr Curzons re-
luctance the school has invited in-
volvement from the police and has
also reported this matter to social
services.
Mr Curzon has yet to make a
formal complaint to the police or
bring a civil or criminal claim
against anystaff allegedtohave com-
mittedabuse. Tothebest of myknow-
ledge, no other former pupil has
taken this action either.
Mr Curzonhas asked to meet, and
I have encouraged himon numerous
occasions to suggest a date to meet
with me to discuss the issues. He
travelled to North Wales last week to
meet with the Weekly News and be
photographedoutside the school, but
chose not to contact me to arrange a
meeting while he was in the area.
A spokeswoman for North Wales
Police commented: Weve not re-
ceived any further complaints.
More allegations of sexual abuse at
Rydal have emerged this week. Left, the
story on our front page last week. Right,
current headteacher Patrick Lee-Browne.
More sexual
abuse claims
from ex-pupils
Former teacher
tells of culture
of humiliation
and fear
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Former pupils
shocking
allegations of
sexual abuse
at private
school in
the 1970s
My 10 years
of hell at
Rydal
READ EXCLUSIVE STORY BY RICHARD EVANS - PAGES 4-5
ALLEGATIONS:
Alexander Curzon, now
50, boarded at Rydal in
the 1970s and claims
sexual abuse took place
frequently.
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