Esther Rantzen comes to West Berkshire to celebrate 25 years of ChildLine

The television presenter attended a special meeting of the NSPCC Berkshire branch in Lower Basildon on Tuesday to talk about her experiences with ChildLine.
The NSPCC joined the helpline in 2006; giving extra resources to the 24 hour counselling service for children and young people.
Rantzen, who is still president of ChildLine, has written a book called Running Out Of Tears to mark the charity’s 25th anniversary, with all proceeds going to the NSPCC (pictured).
The 72-year-old said: “ChildLine is a lifeline for children. It really offers hope to those in despair.
“It was the first worldwide helpline for children and now it has been copied in 150 countries.
“I knew there was a real need for it back then but I didn’t see know it would transform so many young people’s lives.”
ChildLine also helped to uncover the sexual abuse of children at Crookham Court School near Thatcham, which closed in the late 1980s.
Owner of the school, Philip Cadman, and teachers William Printer and Anthony Edmonds were convicted of sexual assault in 1990.
Earlier this year another former teacher at the school, Mark Standish, was sentenced to four years in prison after a jury at Reading Crown Court found him guilty of four counts of indecently assaulting a pupil while he was a teacher at the school between 1988 and 1989.
Standish is currently appealing his conviction through the Court of Appeal.
“It was very difficult for the abused children to come forward because they felt that everyone was part of the conspiracy,” Rantzen said.
“Sexual abuse is a terrible crime and people who commit such a crime always think there might be a way out, especially if the evidence against them is the word of a child.”
More than a hundred guests attended Tuesday’s meeting, with more than £3,000 being raised for the NSPCC.
Speaking about Rantzen, who gave a talk at the meeting and signed copies of her new book, secretary of NSPCC’s West Berkshire luncheon club, Lyn Ashworth said: “Esther has a lovely sense of humour and her talk about ChildLine was very interesting. She also talked about her time on That’s Life and Strictly, which was very amusing.”
To contact ChildLine call 0800 1111, or visit www.childline.org.uk
For more details about NSPCC West Berkshire Luncheon Club, call Sara Richards on 01491 872296or email sararichards5@btinternet.com