Fred Talbot’s damning diaries were today released as it was revealed the former weatherman was forced to resign from Altrincham Grammar over an incident with two pupils in 1984.
It had been thought that the Bowdon resident, who was today convicted of two counts of indecent assault, had left the school in order to pursue a career in the media.
But it was only during the course of the investigation that detectives discovered he propositioned two astronomy pupils, aged 15, whom he had invited to his house to use his telescope. Talbot resigned in May 1984 after the boys’ parents reported this to the school.
Talbot is a prolific diary writer and dozens of books covering most of his life were recovered when police raided his home. A number of diary entries marked with asterisks were found alongside entries relating to the victims. In interview he told police they referred to panic attacks but later admitted it was a code denoting that sexual activity having taken place.
There were also entries highly suggestive of inappropriate behaviour. In one entry dated 6 May 1984, he wrote: “The fourth (year students) decided to stay the night. As usual I had quite a bit to drink and as usual I tried. I must be mad.”
On an entry dated 17 July 1981, he wrote: “Some thoughts on the two previous trips: you have messed it up. You have no right, you are in the wrong. Each individual has rights that can’t be infringed.” Another entry reads: ‘What is more interesting than a smoking, swearing and copulating 15 year old.”
DC Doggart added: “Talbot is a prolific diary writer and we found many entries with asterisks or other symbols against them and, while he lied during his police interview, he later admitted they referred to sexual activity with people, including his two victims.
“By not acknowledging what he has done he has forced them to once again relive their ordeals in court and I hope they are sufficiently satisfied that their bravery has resulted in his convictions.”
Below: Various entries in Fred Talbot’s diary between 1969 and 1985
