GEORGE ANTHONY ROBSON AND DAVID CLARKE SHOCK NORFOLK AT BANHAM, BRIDGHAM, AND DISS

George Robson, aged 66, the former head of Banham Marshalls College near Diss, Norfolk, passed away on 13 November 2007. His death came just one day after he was sentenced to a suspended jail term following his conviction on five counts of cruelty to pupils spanning from 1976 to 2002. The conviction and sentencing marked a significant chapter in the ongoing investigation into the abuse allegations at the school, which had been under scrutiny for several years.

Robson, who resided on The Street in Bridgham, Norfolk, was a prominent figure in the local educational community. He was the founder of the institution originally known as The Old Rectory School, established in the 1970s in a rented building in Watton before relocating to a former rectory at Church Hill, Banham, in 1975. The school was initially intended for 'maladjusted' girls, but due to staffing difficulties, it evolved into a co-educational facility for children with various behavioral issues, aged seven to 16, drawn from across the country.

During the trial at Norwich Crown Court, evidence revealed a disturbing pattern of abuse inflicted upon vulnerable children. Jurors heard testimonies that two boys, attending the school for children with special needs, were forced to fight each other publicly. Other allegations included a boy being made to eat his own vomit and another being compelled to destroy his birthday presents as forms of punishment. These acts, among others, painted a grim picture of the environment at the school during Robson’s tenure.

The investigation into the allegations was initiated in February 2003 following inspections by the National Care Standards Commission (NCSC). Alongside Robson, his brother Anthony Robson, aged 63 and residing on Mill Road in Banham, was also convicted. Anthony, who served as the head of childcare at the school from 1977, was sentenced to a suspended term as well. He claimed to have no memory of specific incidents of abuse but acknowledged that corporal punishment, including slippering, was used at the school.

Another individual involved in the case was David Clarke, aged 56, a caretaker at the school. Clarke, a former army warrant officer with 22 years of service, was responsible for supervising children outside school hours. He was found guilty of child cruelty in October 2005 and received a 12-month suspended sentence. Clarke’s military background contributed to his authoritative and sometimes intimidating demeanor, which some children found threatening. His methods included physically restraining children, such as lying on them to subdue them, and punishing a boy with Asperger’s syndrome by forcing him to stand outside in freezing temperatures in his pajamas.

Leslie Beckett, born in 1915 and residing at Pilgrims Way in Harleston, was also charged with indecent assault but died before his trial could take place. His involvement added to the complex web of abuse allegations linked to the school.

George Robson’s background was marked by a career in education that began in 1963. Originally from Durham, he moved to Norfolk with his wife Sheena, also a qualified teacher, in 1974. The couple married in 1962 and had three children. Robson’s professional credentials included consultancy work for Great Ormond Street Hospital and speaking engagements at the Cambridge Institute for Education. His reputation was that of a dedicated educator, and during the trial, his defense team emphasized the differences in disciplinary practices from the era in which he worked, urging the jury to consider the context of the time.

Robson’s leadership style was described as firm and disciplined, with colleagues and staff testifying that the school was a happy environment and that Robson himself was not seen behaving aggressively towards pupils. His wife, Sheena, who served as a house mother, also attested to his gentle nature. Despite these defenses, the court found him guilty of the cruelty charges, and he was sentenced to a two-year prison term, suspended for two years. Many former pupils expressed their outrage, asserting that Robson should have been imprisoned rather than receiving a suspended sentence. Alan Jeeves remarked, “Yes, he has got an illness and is dying, but he should be dying in prison because we were in a prison. We were vulnerable children who could not get into a mainstream school.”

Robson, who had a terminal heart condition, did not attend the sentencing hearing. The victims, including Siobhan Young, who called Robson a coward for not facing them, expressed their anger and hurt over the leniency of the sentence. They recounted the abuse they endured, which included physical violence and psychological torment, during their time at the school.

The case highlighted the dark history of the institution, which had grown from a small school with nine children to a larger facility with around 60 pupils. The school’s purpose was to help children with behavioral difficulties, but the allegations revealed a pattern of mistreatment that betrayed its mission. The investigation and subsequent convictions have cast a long shadow over the legacy of George Robson, Anthony Robson, David Clarke, and others involved in the operation of Banham Marshalls College, raising questions about oversight and accountability in institutions caring for vulnerable children.