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Original poster

Will Young program on C4

34 replies

Storyline · 11/05/2022 02:01

Did anyone watch Will Young"s program on C4 tonight? I found it incredibly sad , his poor parents. They looked broken , they clearly lay much of the blame at the door of his prep school . It changed their happy sons 😪

OP posts:
Wouldyabeguilty · 11/05/2022 02:08

It was heartbreaking

Original poster
Storyline · 11/05/2022 02:10

It really was @Wouldyabeguilty .

OP posts:
ChimbarasiKotapaxi · 11/05/2022 02:51

Heartbreaking and brave

Original poster
Storyline · 11/05/2022 02:53

Yes ,it was very brave @ChimbarasiKotapaxi.

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Americanapplepie · 11/05/2022 03:02

It was heartbreaking. I would be interested to know what school this was. Will and his brother Rupert would have been there in the early 90"s , that is not that long ago.

It was incredibly brave of the family to do this.

NutellaEllaElla · 11/05/2022 04:15

I haven't seen it but it sounds interesting, were they bullied at school then?

jlinya · 11/05/2022 04:17

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Rummikub · 11/05/2022 05:07

Will said the boarding school had a lot of abusive adult men there. And did he say they were beaten with slippers?
Were the parents aware over the 5 years?

Original poster
Storyline · 11/05/2022 10:45

The parents weren't aware @Rummikub . I read more about this today on Will Wikipedia and other articles. The school was such an abusive place.

OP posts:
Original poster
Storyline · 11/05/2022 10:54

In April 2021, Will Young opened up about his experience at prep school, claiming to have suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). “I’ve been thinking a lot about prep school, and wondering if any of those institutions will be brought to justice for the things that I saw happen...kids thrown against radiators. Other things I can’t talk about.” Young also remembered drunk teachers “rolling around dormitories”, and one “you wouldn’t go for a ride with”... Teachers looking at our penises in the shower, in the bath...There was such a sense of injustice from things that I experienced and witnessed...I think I escaped – not that it didn’t damage me.”

This is on the school"s Wikipedia.

OP posts:
Oblomov22 · 11/05/2022 11:01

Why is the programme being released now? The timing? What is he hoping to achieve?

Original poster
Storyline · 11/05/2022 11:02

The timing @Oblomov22 ?

OP posts:
Neverreturntoathread · 11/05/2022 11:08

Oblomov22 · 11/05/2022 11:01

Why is the programme being released now? The timing? What is he hoping to achieve?

Well I imagine he’s trying to raise awareness of the fact that child abuse sometimes takes place at schools and can involve teachers, so that parents are more alive to this possibility and watch out for signs that their children are being abused?

I know someone who went to a school just like that in the 1970s and it traumatised him and shaped his life, but I didn’t know it was still going on in the 1990s. 😔

Poor Will - and all those other children.

Americanapplepie · 11/05/2022 11:10

That's a very odd comment @Oblomov22. Will and his brother were at the school until the 90's, I hope he talks more about the place.There must be so many more damaged boys out there. I thought it was very brave of him to speak now.

I hope that Will and his family get some justice.

ClaudiusTheGod · 11/05/2022 11:11

Oblomov22 · 11/05/2022 11:01

Why is the programme being released now? The timing? What is he hoping to achieve?

What is your problem with this?

LizzyELane · 11/05/2022 11:13

This programme was so moving, that poor family. Will came across as a lovely man, as always, and this tragedy shouldn't have happened to him and his parents. Of course nobody knows for sure what affected his brother so much but it appeared that brutal treatment at an 'old school' style boarding school changed a happy little boy's life to one of addiction and ultimately an early death. Sincerely hope the individuals in charge of that school are no longer working with children.

x2boys · 11/05/2022 11:17

Oblomov22 · 11/05/2022 11:01

Why is the programme being released now? The timing? What is he hoping to achieve?

I haven't seen the programme, but I saw an interview with Will last week ,his twin brother was am alcoholic and killed himself last year and I read about the abuse they suffered at school
Will always comes across as a genuine and caring man

Americanapplepie · 11/05/2022 11:21

Both boys attended Horris Hill prep school near Newbury, Berkshire, in the late 1980s. Tatler describes it as “All-boys heaven’’ but Young says, back then, as a boarder, he felt abandoned. And then there was sexual humiliation and violence.

Those poor boys 😞

Strugglingtodaywiththis · 11/05/2022 12:14

This is my first post as usual just read mumsnet.

My son attending this school not in the 80"s and 90's but less than 10 years ago.I am so thankful to Will Young for making this documentary even though it was very hard for our family to watch.The emotional abuse my son suffered at this school was horrific. I can't give too many details as it possibly identify my son.

I have to live with the fact that I made the decision to send my son to this place for the rest of my life. I only carry on for the sake of my husband ( who also finds it very difficult ) and my children.

Watching Will's parents was heartbreaking. My son was taught by teachers who were there at there at the time but some of the newer teachers were equally cruel.

Our wonderful son has forgiven us.although as he gets older this may change. He is coping admirably despite what he went through.We will never forget ourselves.

@Oblomov22 I hope that Will and his family achieve everything they hope to. It was incredibly brave.

Original poster
Storyline · 11/05/2022 12:25

@Strugglingtodaywiththis 💐

I am so sorry to hear how your son also suffered.
Sending hugs.🤗

OP posts:
Americanapplepie · 11/05/2022 12:40

This is very brave of you @Strugglingtodaywiththis.These schools always get away with saying " that was in the past ". Clearly they attract cruel people.
Best of luck to your son and take care of yourself.💐

Strugglingtodaywiththis · 11/05/2022 12:51

Thank you for your kindness. My son is a great young man,we are very proud of him. He has asked that me never mention Horris Hill in his presence. My husband and I are finding today very difficult after watching Will and his family last night.

Oblomov22 · 11/05/2022 12:54

Sorry. That wasn't what I meant. I haven't even seen the programme. But I like Will Young and wondered what had prompted the programme being released now. Why now? I read every article I could find about it yesterday and they all focused on his PTSD, and all focused on the programme being about his journey, re the loss of his alcoholic twin brother Rupert, and Will's view that he never should have been discharged from the hospital that day, because he was in danger.

I wasn't referring to school abuse at all.

Original poster
Storyline · 11/05/2022 13:05

It was clear from the program that his parents are struggling with the choice to send their boys to the school@Oblomov22 .

Will has said in a previous article he may make a program about the school. Given what @Oblomov22

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SerenadeOfTheSchoolRun · 11/05/2022 13:07

Rupert only died in July 2020, not that long ago. Will said that he wanted to tell the story but it wasn’t his to tell before and now it is. He couldn’t have made it any sooner as the grief would have been too raw. No mention of his bothers discharge from hospital in the program. It is really a tribute to his brother, a way of processing his grief and an open discussion about alcohol dependency.