The Rev Lawrence Turner, the Anglican vicar of St Martin's, the parish within which the home lies, says he first heard whispers about physical abuse shortly after arriving in the area in the mid-60s. He was told of a number of specific incidents by a senior figure within his parish and advised the man to contact the authorities. "Either he didn't tell them, or he was ignored. That is the bad part; that is the thing we all have to live with."
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article3466755.ece
One senior community figure was prepared to admit to disturbing memories from more than 20 years ago.
Lawrence Turner, the 64-year-old Anglican vicar of St Martin Le Vieux, near the home, said after the child's remains were found last weekend: "I sat for a long time trying to think if I should or could have done something." He recalled being told of "untoward" goings-on at the home just after he arrived in the parish in the mid1980s.
The priest described the whispers as "little rumours from one or two people expressing distress". But one of the abuse stories, although vague, was worse than the other. Turner pondered whether he should tell the police himself but decided against. "I only heard it secondhand and I thought the person would go to authority," he said.
Today Turner will conduct a special mother's day church service. He now hopes that an exorcism – of human souls as much as a building – can begin to bring the memories out into the open.
He said: "We could get victims there, people who suffered indirectly, and do an elaborate ritual which, whether you believe it or not, looks effective. Bell, book and candle, the lot, could settlea lot of minds. This little lot is so soiled it's got to be washed in public for everybody's sake, people not involved, like myself, who just feel guilty about it."
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