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| New claims emerge of sexual abuse at Chetham's music school | New claims emerge of sexual abuse at Chetham's music school |
| (about 1 month later) | |
| More claims of sexual assault and impropriety have been made against former teachers at a prestigious Manchester music school as one of the school's trustees admitted "concerns run deep" among the institution's management. | More claims of sexual assault and impropriety have been made against former teachers at a prestigious Manchester music school as one of the school's trustees admitted "concerns run deep" among the institution's management. |
| On Wednesday, the Guardian heard more allegations about the inappropriate behaviour of Chris Ling, a former violin teacher at Chetham's school of music now living in the US, as well as Ryszard Bakst, a piano teacher who died in 1999. | On Wednesday, the Guardian heard more allegations about the inappropriate behaviour of Chris Ling, a former violin teacher at Chetham's school of music now living in the US, as well as Ryszard Bakst, a piano teacher who died in 1999. |
| A pupil of Bakst in the 1980s, Woman P, claimed he touched her breasts outside her clothing when he taught her in the 1980s. She was 15 at the time. | A pupil of Bakst in the 1980s, Woman P, claimed he touched her breasts outside her clothing when he taught her in the 1980s. She was 15 at the time. |
| Another student, Woman O, said Ling became her violin teacher in 1985 and taught her between the ages of 11 and 13. She claimed he "systematically weeded out most of his male students" so he had as many young girls as possible on his roster. | Another student, Woman O, said Ling became her violin teacher in 1985 and taught her between the ages of 11 and 13. She claimed he "systematically weeded out most of his male students" so he had as many young girls as possible on his roster. |
| She said she remembered him once saying something "deeply inappropriate" about another student, saying: "I'd really like to teach her one day. When she's 18 I'll tell her what a fantastic figure she's got." | She said she remembered him once saying something "deeply inappropriate" about another student, saying: "I'd really like to teach her one day. When she's 18 I'll tell her what a fantastic figure she's got." |
| She said she was simultaneously in awe and terrified of Ling, and claimed he seemed to go out of his way to scare her. She claimed he once devoted a whole lesson to telling her about Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. | She said she was simultaneously in awe and terrified of Ling, and claimed he seemed to go out of his way to scare her. She claimed he once devoted a whole lesson to telling her about Myra Hindley and Ian Brady. |
| Once, when correcting her left hand technique, he allegedly said: "Imagine I have a syringe of the HIV virus. If you move your thumb anywhere near here, I'll prick you and infect you with HIV." | Once, when correcting her left hand technique, he allegedly said: "Imagine I have a syringe of the HIV virus. If you move your thumb anywhere near here, I'll prick you and infect you with HIV." |
| As with a number of Ling's pupils, Woman O claimed Ling once said to her: "If I told you that if you ran down the street naked, you'd be a better violinist, would you do it?" | As with a number of Ling's pupils, Woman O claimed Ling once said to her: "If I told you that if you ran down the street naked, you'd be a better violinist, would you do it?" |
| On Wednesday, the school declined to answer a series of questions from the Guardian, saying it would not be appropriate for them to comment on the claims while there was a police investigation. | On Wednesday, the school declined to answer a series of questions from the Guardian, saying it would not be appropriate for them to comment on the claims while there was a police investigation. |
| But in response to calls for an independent inquiry from well known musicians such as Paul Lewis and Tim Horton – both pianists and Chetham's alumni – a Chetham's spokeswoman said: "We have been advised by the police that we cannot commission any such inquiry due to the police investigation. Whilst we of course understand the media's wish for further information, we are being led by the police on this matter." | But in response to calls for an independent inquiry from well known musicians such as Paul Lewis and Tim Horton – both pianists and Chetham's alumni – a Chetham's spokeswoman said: "We have been advised by the police that we cannot commission any such inquiry due to the police investigation. Whilst we of course understand the media's wish for further information, we are being led by the police on this matter." |
| One trustee (officially a "feoffee") of Chetham's is Gavin Henderson, principal of the Central School of Speech and Drama. He said he was "bound by agreements of confidentiality at this time". He said in an email: "This is by no means a fudging of responsibility – quite the reverse. Concern runs very deep, but I cannot make comment other than that which you have received from [Chetham's spokeswoman]." | One trustee (officially a "feoffee") of Chetham's is Gavin Henderson, principal of the Central School of Speech and Drama. He said he was "bound by agreements of confidentiality at this time". He said in an email: "This is by no means a fudging of responsibility – quite the reverse. Concern runs very deep, but I cannot make comment other than that which you have received from [Chetham's spokeswoman]." |
| It has also emerged one of the school's trustees and governors is Professor Edward Gregson, former principal at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). He has been heavily criticised for his decision in 2002 to appoint Malcolm Layfield to a top job as head of strings at the RNCM despite being extensively warned that Layfield had a reputation for sleeping with his teenage pupils while teaching freelance at Chetham's and the RNCM in the 1980s and 90s. Layfield was forced to admit to these sexual liaisons but has always maintained the girls were over 16 and the sex was consensual, and that he regrets his behaviour. | It has also emerged one of the school's trustees and governors is Professor Edward Gregson, former principal at the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM). He has been heavily criticised for his decision in 2002 to appoint Malcolm Layfield to a top job as head of strings at the RNCM despite being extensively warned that Layfield had a reputation for sleeping with his teenage pupils while teaching freelance at Chetham's and the RNCM in the 1980s and 90s. Layfield was forced to admit to these sexual liaisons but has always maintained the girls were over 16 and the sex was consensual, and that he regrets his behaviour. |
| On Wednesday, Gregson declined to answer questions about the latest allegations about Chetham's, saying he had been told to direct all inquiries to the school's press office. On Monday he issued a statement via his lawyers defending his appointment of Layfield. He said: "If there had been serious reasons, based on recent evidence, that Mr Layfield's appointment would have posed any risk to them, I would have had no hesitation in rescinding his appointment. | On Wednesday, Gregson declined to answer questions about the latest allegations about Chetham's, saying he had been told to direct all inquiries to the school's press office. On Monday he issued a statement via his lawyers defending his appointment of Layfield. He said: "If there had been serious reasons, based on recent evidence, that Mr Layfield's appointment would have posed any risk to them, I would have had no hesitation in rescinding his appointment. |
| "We certainly did not condone Mr Layfield's past behaviour – far from it – and made it clear that any serious allegations should be reported to the police. We had huge sympathy for those former students who had been affected by his actions and this was expressed to them at the time." | "We certainly did not condone Mr Layfield's past behaviour – far from it – and made it clear that any serious allegations should be reported to the police. We had huge sympathy for those former students who had been affected by his actions and this was expressed to them at the time." |
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