William Mayne 'Fabrication'

I've come to this website late but would appreciate any further information because I'm trying to piece together my own history as a victim of William Mayne, who has affected every moment of my life over the last 50 years.

This debate has been very heartening and validating. The notion that someone who is admired and whose books are highly respected yet has systematically abused little girls for many years is bound to cause spliting and division amongst those who are forced to consider that this previously tabboo subject has occured. He was 'gentle' in some respects and he had an ability to get into the world of childhood, but he chose to push aside those abilities and to give priority to his selfish sexual preditary wishes, claiming, as groomers do, that this is what the young children wanted. His sexual assaults are not 'gentle' and have distressed so many of his victims. What was two minutes of pleasure for him has caused feelings of low self-esteem, loneliness, guilt, fear, puzzlement and anger. At last he has been forced to account for his behaviours and had to change his plea when the evidence against him was overwhelming.

"Just because the lastest fashion seems
to be peadiphilea doesnt mean that all old men are guilty of it"

. Paedophilia is not something any of us want to think about in connection with someone we like or admire. It does hit the news more than it used to - but not because it is a fashion, rather because people are finding it easier to come 'out' about it these days because as a society we recognise that it really does happen.

You are right to say that not all old men guilty of it- unfortunately though, many men are, and there is plenty of evidence that people who sexually abuse children do not usually change (unless they are prepared to acknowledge what they have done and work hard to address their motivation for their abusive behaviour).

By his own admission W M pleaded guilty to 11 out of 14 offences he was accused of. These offences involved girls who did not know each other and were not aware that others had been abused.

If W M's self confessed guilt is difficult to stomach because it contradicts or spoils his public image think how much more difficult it was for the women who experienced the abuse to come forward and speak about what happened to them when they were children.

Many of the children he abused also admired and liked him - how difficult is that!

However hard this may be for his admirers and friends to believe or to understand, please don't deny the experience of those who have confronted the issue publicly. Their experiences really happened - and sexual abuse is one of the most serious of crimes.

"Just because the lastest fashion seems to be peadiphilea doesnt mean that all old men are guilty of it."

No, but just because all old men are not guilty of it, doesn't mean this old man was not guilty of it. There is plenty of evidence. Why should you choose not to believe the harrowing tales that these women are finding so hard to tell? People are capable of presenting more than one face to the world. Just because he was pleasant to you doesn't mean he was pleasant to those children.

I knew WM when I was a young girl. He put much effort into spending time with another young girl I was close to. Even though she hated him and wanted nothing to do with him. I also found his presence to be unpleasant. I was only a young child, so I found it difficult to explain why I disliked him so much. Thinking about him now makes me feel bad, and that was true even before I heard this week's news.

"There are worse criminals out there."

This man is being accused of the rape of young children. In my book that is a very bad crime. I also have good cause to believe it is true.

I've met William on several occasions over the past 6 years and have we lost so much faith in the human race we cannot believe that people can change? As I know William he is a gentle gentleman. Just because the lastest fashion seems to be peadiphilea doesnt mean that all old men are guilty of it. There are worse criminals out there.

To share information about William Mayne and what he did is very empowering and positive. He had to change his pleas in Court yesterday becuase the evidence was overwhelming and his allibies were collapsing. As a professional story teller he was expert at defining reality for the children he callously abused, betraying their trust. Where to talk about experiences? I guess contacting one of the professional help services could be useful, or talking to Richmond Police in North Yorkshire, or using a web site such as this, or supportive friends. These are not mutually-exclusive options, of course. Some of his victims are now talking to each other too.

Julie

I'm not clear what this website is, having found it when entering William Mayne's name on Google. Can anyone clarify for me, as I have stuff to share about William Mayne with an appropriate audience.

thanks, Natasha.

I'm not clear what this website is, having found it when entering William Mayne's name on Google. Can anyone clarify for me, as I have stuff to share about William Mayne with an appropriate audience.

thanks, Natasha.

I used to holiday in Thornton Rust in the early 60's and the daughter of the farmhouse we stayed at was a regular visitir to Mayne's house. Even as an eleven year old I thought he was a bit strange, hippy-ish. My Mother said there was something wrong with the fact that there were young girls going in and out all the time. Just shows you doesn't it?