In 1949 Michael John Taylor was adopted under somewhat unusual circumstances. Having been hospitalised for 6 months with gastro enteritis, Michael made a rather inconvenient and untimely recovery. His sudden appearance had to be explained by his mother, to her new boyfriend, who had accepted her four children but it was unlikely he would accept a fifth. Thankfully his brother Jim and sister-in-law Edith offered to help by looking after Michael for a week. This in turn led to them adopting him and as soon as the adoption papers were signed Michael became James (Jimmy) and his real mother vanished, never to be seen again.
Jimmy, due to his somewhat shaky start in life, was a nervous child and sometimes found growing up in the shadow of his adoptive father quite terrifying. Jim was an illiterate scaffolder with a volatile and unpredictable temper. He could fly off the handle for no apparent reason, making life like walking a tightrope, without the luxury of a safety net. Whilst Edith had insisted Jimmy be raised knowing he was adopted, this also meant, that during these dark episodes, he resented his adoption and despised his real mother for abandoning him.
Being brought up in London’s East End was far from luxurious. Home was a post war house, shared with another family living upstairs. With no bathroom, no running hot water, and with the whole household sharing the outside toilet, life was at best ‘basic’.
When Jimmy was only 9 years old, his life was to take yet another dramatic turn. Without any thought for his safety or welfare, he’s been allowed to go to the cinema, alone, and at night. He was given two shillings so he could go and see one of his favourite movies, a war film. As he took his seat the film was rolling and the screen was full of battleships’ with guns blazing salvo after salvo. With eyes glued to the screen he hadn’t noticed the man who’d sat next to him and it wasn’t long before he was being molested. In disbelief he just sat there frozen in fear, with his heart pounding. When the film ended Jimmy left but the man followed him. At the right moment, he lured him into a shop basement and sexually assaulted him. After, leaving Jimmy standing alone in the street, Jimmy blaming himself for what had happened. Now on top of wrestling with the idea of being adopted, he was laden with guilt for something that wasn’t his fault. He decided to keep what had happened, a secret. He believed if his parents found out, they would blame him or perhaps even worse, think of him as some sort of adopted reject and put him into a children’s home.
Two years later, still with his secret locked away, Jimmy joined the Scouts. Due to his father, his life is deeply troubled at home and he needs help. Tom, his scoutmaster senses his plight and throws him a ‘barbed’ lifeline. Tom’s kind and listens to Jimmy, offering him a place of sanctuary, in his flat. But Tom’s kindness is ‘conditional’ and Jimmy is slowly drawn into a relationship with a paedophile. Now he has another and even darker secret to keep and his life becomes unbearably complicated as he enters his teens. Incredibly confused about many things, not the least his sexuality, he once again blames himself for what has happened. So he decides that getting married would put everything right and solve all of his problems. After all, that’s what men in the East End of London do and Tom would be out of his life.
Sadly, life is never quite that simple and there are maze of complications en route to the altar. Would marriage really be the answer? Will Tom then leave him alone? Will Jimmy ever be able to share his secrets?
Tom was kind but wrong for what he did. At last Jimmy can tell of what can happen to children who try to hide in shadows where dangerous men lie in wait. He can share his story with us because Tom is dead and, ‘They Can’t Touch Him Now!’
In 1949 Michael John Taylor was adopted under somewhat unusual circumstances. Having been hospitalised for 6 months with gastro enteritis, Michael made a rather inconvenient and untimely recovery. His sudden appearance had to be explained by his mother, to her new boyfriend, who had accepted her four children but it was unlikely he would accept a fifth. Thankfully his brother Jim and sister-in-law Edith offered to help by looking after Michael for a week. This in turn led to them adopting him and as soon as the adoption papers were signed Michael became James (Jimmy) and his real mother vanished, never to be seen again.
Jimmy, due to his somewhat shaky start in life, was a nervous child and sometimes found growing up in the shadow of his adoptive father quite terrifying. Jim was an illiterate scaffolder with a volatile and unpredictable temper. He could fly off the handle for no apparent reason, making life like walking a tightrope, without the luxury of a safety net. Whilst Edith had insisted Jimmy be raised knowing he was adopted, this also meant, that during these dark episodes, he resented his adoption and despised his real mother for abandoning him.
Being brought up in London’s East End was far from luxurious. Home was a post war house, shared with another family living upstairs. With no bathroom, no running hot water, and with the whole household sharing the outside toilet, life was at best ‘basic’.
When Jimmy was only 9 years old, his life was to take yet another dramatic turn. Without any thought for his safety or welfare, he’s been allowed to go to the cinema, alone, and at night. He was given two shillings so he could go and see one of his favourite movies, a war film. As he took his seat the film was rolling and the screen was full of battleships’ with guns blazing salvo after salvo. With eyes glued to the screen he hadn’t noticed the man who’d sat next to him and it wasn’t long before he was being molested. In disbelief he just sat there frozen in fear, with his heart pounding. When the film ended Jimmy left but the man followed him. At the right moment, he lured him into a shop basement and sexually assaulted him. After, leaving Jimmy standing alone in the street, Jimmy blaming himself for what had happened. Now on top of wrestling with the idea of being adopted, he was laden with guilt for something that wasn’t his fault. He decided to keep what had happened, a secret. He believed if his parents found out, they would blame him or perhaps even worse, think of him as some sort of adopted reject and put him into a children’s home.
Two years later, still with his secret locked away, Jimmy joined the Scouts. Due to his father, his life is deeply troubled at home and he needs help. Tom, his scoutmaster senses his plight and throws him a ‘barbed’ lifeline. Tom’s kind and listens to Jimmy, offering him a place of sanctuary, in his flat. But Tom’s kindness is ‘conditional’ and Jimmy is slowly drawn into a relationship with a paedophile. Now he has another and even darker secret to keep and his life becomes unbearably complicated as he enters his teens. Incredibly confused about many things, not the least his sexuality, he once again blames himself for what has happened. So he decides that getting married would put everything right and solve all of his problems. After all, that’s what men in the East End of London do and Tom would be out of his life.
Sadly, life is never quite that simple and there are maze of complications en route to the altar. Would marriage really be the answer? Will Tom then leave him alone? Will Jimmy ever be able to share his secrets?
Tom was kind but wrong for what he did. At last Jimmy can tell of what can happen to children who try to hide in shadows where dangerous men lie in wait. He can share his story with us because Tom is dead and, ‘They Can’t Touch Him Now!’
In 1949 Michael John Taylor was adopted under somewhat unusual circumstances. Having been hospitalised for 6 months with gastro enteritis, Michael made a rather inconvenient and untimely recovery. His sudden appearance had to be explained by his mother, to her new boyfriend, who had accepted her four children but it was unlikely he would accept a fifth. Thankfully his brother Jim and sister-in-law Edith offered to help by looking after Michael for a week. This in turn led to them adopting him and as soon as the adoption papers were signed Michael became James (Jimmy) and his real mother vanished, never to be seen again.
Jimmy, due to his somewhat shaky start in life, was a nervous child and sometimes found growing up in the shadow of his adoptive father quite terrifying. Jim was an illiterate scaffolder with a volatile and unpredictable temper. He could fly off the handle for no apparent reason, making life like walking a tightrope, without the luxury of a safety net. Whilst Edith had insisted Jimmy be raised knowing he was adopted, this also meant, that during these dark episodes, he resented his adoption and despised his real mother for abandoning him.
Being brought up in London’s East End was far from luxurious. Home was a post war house, shared with another family living upstairs. With no bathroom, no running hot water, and with the whole household sharing the outside toilet, life was at best ‘basic’.
When Jimmy was only 9 years old, his life was to take yet another dramatic turn. Without any thought for his safety or welfare, he’s been allowed to go to the cinema, alone, and at night. He was given two shillings so he could go and see one of his favourite movies, a war film. As he took his seat the film was rolling and the screen was full of battleships’ with guns blazing salvo after salvo. With eyes glued to the screen he hadn’t noticed the man who’d sat next to him and it wasn’t long before he was being molested. In disbelief he just sat there frozen in fear, with his heart pounding. When the film ended Jimmy left but the man followed him. At the right moment, he lured him into a shop basement and sexually assaulted him. After, leaving Jimmy standing alone in the street, Jimmy blaming himself for what had happened. Now on top of wrestling with the idea of being adopted, he was laden with guilt for something that wasn’t his fault. He decided to keep what had happened, a secret. He believed if his parents found out, they would blame him or perhaps even worse, think of him as some sort of adopted reject and put him into a children’s home.
Two years later, still with his secret locked away, Jimmy joined the Scouts. Due to his father, his life is deeply troubled at home and he needs help. Tom, his scoutmaster senses his plight and throws him a ‘barbed’ lifeline. Tom’s kind and listens to Jimmy, offering him a place of sanctuary, in his flat. But Tom’s kindness is ‘conditional’ and Jimmy is slowly drawn into a relationship with a paedophile. Now he has another and even darker secret to keep and his life becomes unbearably complicated as he enters his teens. Incredibly confused about many things, not the least his sexuality, he once again blames himself for what has happened. So he decides that getting married would put everything right and solve all of his problems. After all, that’s what men in the East End of London do and Tom would be out of his life.
Sadly, life is never quite that simple and there are maze of complications en route to the altar. Would marriage really be the answer? Will Tom then leave him alone? Will Jimmy ever be able to share his secrets?
Tom was kind but wrong for what he did. At last Jimmy can tell of what can happen to children who try to hide in shadows where dangerous men lie in wait. He can share his story with us because Tom is dead and, ‘They Can’t Touch Him Now!’
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