JOHN PENROSE
She never mentioned anything about this alleged abuse during the trial, or – as far as I know – at any other time. In fact, the police specifically asked her if there’d been any kind of abuse and she was absolutely categorical that there hadn’t. How do you explain that?
‘MANDY’
I think she was ashamed. He made her swear not to tell anyone. And it can take years for abuse survivors to speak out – you know that as well as I do.
JOHN PENROSE
So she gave the baby to this man? You think that’s what really happened?
‘MANDY’
It’s the only thing that makes sense. And even that lay-by thing makes sense if this bloke lived local.
JOHN PENROSE
It would be difficult for him to hide a baby, though, wouldn’t it? A middle-aged man, presumably with a wife and family already, suddenly has a baby in the house? Someone was bound to have noticed.
‘MANDY’
I reckon he got rid of it.
JOHN PENROSE
You think he killed the child?
‘MANDY’
Why not? He had a lot to lose – he wouldn’t want it all coming out about him being a child molester, now would he?
JOHN PENROSE
But why didn’t Camilla tell the police all this? Especially when they asked her about possible coercion? Why come up with that wild story about Tim Baker or whatever his name was? If she’d been abused, the police would have been sympathetic. And they could have taken action against this man. As it is, he got off scot-free – assuming what you’re saying is true.
‘MANDY’
I think she was terrified of him. I think he had some sort of hold over her.
JOHN PENROSE
Did she ever tell you this man’s name?
‘MANDY’
No. Just that he was a friend of the family. That her father played golf with him. But with people like that, that probably doesn’t narrow it down very much, does it.
Cut to: panoramic drone shot over Shiphampton. Church, High Street, park, etc.
VOICEOVER – JOHN PENROSE
She’s not wrong. My own research has turned up several men in the Shiphampton area who played golf with Dick Rowan when Camilla was a child. Two are now dead, and my attempts to speak to some of the others have met with flat refusals, and in one case, a solicitor’s letter.
Cut to: exterior view of South Mercia Police HQ
I also contacted South Mercia CID, who likewise refused to speak to me, but did issue a statement saying that they had adhered scrupulously to the appropriate procedure when dealing with cases that might involve sexual abuse, that Ms Rowan had ‘never made any allegations of this kind’ even when explicitly questioned on the subject, and they would have investigated thoroughly had she done so. They also said they ‘had, and still have, no reason to believe this alleged abuser – or indeed any other third party – was involved in the disappearance and presumed death of Ms Rowan’s baby’, concluding, ‘should Ms Rowan make these allegations herself, we would, of course, take appropriate action’.
There was one person, however, we were able to talk to, and that was Sheila Ward. Remember her from episode one? She was Dick Rowan’s secretary for over two decades, and knew the family well when Camilla was growing up. We asked her about these allegations as part of our first and – as it turned out – only interview with her.
Cut to: Ward family sitting room, gas fire, Border terrier on sofa, potted plants, etc.
TITLE OVER: Sheila Ward, Dick Rowan’s secretary, 1971–1996
JOHN’S VOICE (off)
You knew the family back then – do you think it’s possible Camilla suffered abuse as a child? Abuse that may have affected her behaviour when she discovered she was pregnant?
SHEILA WARD
I don’t believe a word of it. It’s just another one of her lies. If that sort of thing was going on, she’d definitely have said something. She was that sort of girl.
JOHN’S VOICE (off)
But you said yourself she was good at keeping secrets.
SHEILA WARD
When it was in her own interests, yes. That’s a very different kettle of fish. If someone was doing something to her she didn’t like she wouldn’t have suffered in silence. She wouldn’t have let them get away with it.
JOHN’S VOICE (off)
Many abuse victims take years to get to the point where they feel able to speak out. Especially in cases where the abuser is a member of the family or a family friend.
SHEILA WARD
That’s as may be. I’m just telling you that I knew her back then and I simply don’t believe she’d have kept something like that to herself. She’s only coming out with it now because she thinks it will get her off the hook. The minute anyone gets arrested these days the first thing they say is that they’ve been abused – you see it all the time.
(puts on whiny voice)
It’s not my fault – I was a victim – poor little me -
You see it all the time.
JOHN’S VOICE (off)
Perhaps you see it all the time because so many people who find themselves in the criminal justice system have indeed been abused.
SHEILA WARD
I’m not in a position to judge those people. But I am in a position to judge Camilla Rowan, and I’m telling you, she’s a born liar. A pathological liar.
JOHN’S VOICE (off)
The psychiatrist who assessed her says not.
SHEILA WARD
Yes, and Camilla didn’t say anything to them about this so-called abuse either, did she? Doesn’t that tell you something?
JOHN’S VOICE (off)
Let’s assume for a moment that it did actually happen – that she was indeed abused as a child. Do you have any idea who it could have been?
SHEILA WARD
Of course not. The whole idea is ridiculous.
JOHN’S VOICE (off)
You were friends of the family yourself, weren’t you? You and Nigel, your husband?
SHEILA WARD
I was Dick’s secretary.
JOHN’S VOICE (off)
But you socialised with them as well, didn’t you?
Intercut: montage of images showing the Wards at social events with the Rowans – Rotary Club, dinner dances, Christmas parties. Camilla Rowan is clearly in view in the last image, standing with Nigel Ward. He has his hand on her shoulder. She’s about eleven.
SHEILA WARD
We met up occasionally.
JOHN’S VOICE (off)
I think it was rather more than that, wasn’t it? And didn’t your husband play golf with Dick Rowan too?
Intercut: picture taken at Shiphampton golf club, showing Nigel Ward and Dick Rowan with their bags of clubs. Two other men standing with them have their faces blurred out.
SHEILA WARD
(becoming agitated)
They played together once or twice. Hardly at all.
(Producer hands her the same picture)
JOHN’S VOICE (off)
This was taken in 1996. They played in the same four-ball all that year. Indeed, they came second in the club league.
SHEILA WARD
I hope you’re not suggesting –
JOHN’S VOICE (off)
What did Camilla call your husband, Mrs Ward?
SHEILA WARD
I don’t know what you mean –
JOHN’S VOICE (off)