The Anniversary of the Tragedies
39 years ago, on the 7th of August 1985, the White House Farm tragedy took the lives of Nevill and June Bamber, their daughter Sheila and her two 6-year-old sons Daniel and Nicholas. It’s fair to say that much water has flowed under the bridge since that tragic night and a lot of it very murky indeed. But the fact remains that four completely innocent people had their lives taken and one tragically undermedicated, misdiagnosed and largely misunderstood woman took her own.
With the miscarriage of justice surrounding this dreadful case, the lives lost have for a large part become sadly quiescent and collateral. This should not be the case, as the Bambers were a loving and highly respected family – indeed Nevill was a local magistrate and was a former RAF pilot. Both Nevill and June had been churchwardens and took an active part in church activities locally. Owing to her struggle with the menopause, June had endured mental health issues in the latter part of her life. Their inability to have children of their own brought June and Nevill to the loving and charitable decision to adopt. Sheila was placed for adoption in 1957 at the age of approximately 2 weeks and Jeremy in 1961 at approximately 6 weeks.
Nevill and June wanted nothing but the best for their family and paid for private education. Despite the challenges raised by Sheila’s mental health, Nevill and June’s love of their family was exemplified by the prioritization of the wellbeing of their two beautiful grandsons. An issue that would eventually lead to their deaths and the deaths of Daniel and Nicholas as well as the self-inflicted death of Sheila on that tragic night. May they all rest in peace and rise in God’s glory.
John McGowan.
