Colin said he would have killed June

[susan]

The " scene " between mother and daughter puts me in mind of the film " Mommy Dearest " which depicted Joan Crawford and her abusive behaviour towards her adopted daughter, Christina. Crawford was a horrible person in real life which is why she was able to play horrible parts in films.
The film was out in 1981.

Hi lookout (not lookput hahaha)

I watched that film it was so awful hope Sheila did not go through that although I do believe June was quite strict with her Sheila loved her Dad but not sure about June according to Colin she was not close to June.

[lookout]

Hi lookout (not lookput hahaha)

I watched that film it was so awful hope Sheila did not go through that although I do believe June was quite strict with her Sheila loved her Dad but not sure about June according to Colin she was not close to June.

Hi Susan,this is what it puts me in mind of the way Sheila was treated. At first I'd thought of the " Baby Jane " film,but this one sends more of a message.
Poor Neville was betwixt and between the two warring women always trying to keep the peace,until latterly when June had visited her GP again with what appeared to have been a lapse in her own condition in which Neville would have been concerned about so protecting his wife this time.

[Caroline]

I wonder if Colins state of mind as he drove Sheila and his boys to whf that day proved to be the catekyst which sparked off Sheila on the rampage. Colin wan5ing to kiol June Bamber, and shortly afterward June being killed, seems to me to be linked insome way...

This is something Colin expressed later - however, Jeremy told several people he wanted to kill his family. Seems to me to be linked in some way...

[maggie]

Hi Susan,this is what it puts me in mind of the way Sheila was treated. At first I'd thought of the " Baby Jane " film,but this one sends more of a message.
Poor Neville was betwixt and between the two warring women always trying to keep the peace,until latterly when June had visited her GP again with what appeared to have been a lapse in her own condition in which Neville would have been concerned about so protecting his wife this time.

I do feel June gets all the blame, she did take food to Sheila and appeared to try to help and support her however misguided her beliefs/attitude may have been.   

[maggie]

Hi Susan,this is what it puts me in mind of the way Sheila was treated. At first I'd thought of the " Baby Jane " film,but this one sends more of a message.
Poor Neville was betwixt and between the two warring women always trying to keep the peace,until latterly when June had visited her GP again with what appeared to have been a lapse in her own condition in which Neville would have been concerned about so protecting his wife this time.

Why did Sheila go to WHF for the week if she hated it so much and the boys hated it so much?  I can't remember what the reason was but Sheila was a grown woman who had lived away since she was about 17, why take the boys somewhere they hated?

[Caroline]

Hi Susan,this is what it puts me in mind of the way Sheila was treated. At first I'd thought of the " Baby Jane " film,but this one sends more of a message.
Poor Neville was betwixt and between the two warring women always trying to keep the peace,until latterly when June had visited her GP again with what appeared to have been a lapse in her own condition in which Neville would have been concerned about so protecting his wife this time.

You seem to be writing your own version. They had differences but 'warring women'? 

[lookout]

You seem to be writing your own version. They had differences but 'warring women'? 

Well yes because Claire Powell used my thoughts in words as she wrote that on arrival to WHF when Colin had dropped them off,the two women had begun arguing as soon as they set eyes on each other.

[maggie]

Well yes because Claire Powell used my thoughts in words as she wrote that on arrival to WHF when Colin had dropped them off,the two women had begun arguing as soon as they set eyes on each other.

I am still wondering why the boys were taken to WHF if it was such a frightening place for them.  Whatever problems it may have caused Sheila surely her boys happiness came first and she shouldn't have taken them there?

[susan]

Why did Sheila go to WHF for the week if she hated it so much and the boys hated it so much?  I can't remember what the reason was but Sheila was a grown woman who had lived away since she was about 17, why take the boys somewhere they hated?

Maggie
the boys had no choice and Sheila would think it her duty plus she loved Ralph. You only have to read Colin's book to get the gist of what Sheila thought of June and the wee boys were frightened of her.

[lookout]

Susan,it's because I've read snippets of Colin's book that I have a different view of June. I feel he could have said a lot more but probably thought better of it. If anyone knew what life was like at home and at the farmhouse it was Colin as he'd known far more than anyone else,including Jeremy who still sings his mother's praises. I reckon he,Jeremy, didn't know the half. He couldn't have done or he'd have said before now.

[maggie]

Maggie
the boys had no choice and Sheila would think it her duty plus she loved Ralph. You only have to read Colin's book to get the gist of what Sheila thought of June and the wee boys were frightened of her.

I know the boys had no choice, am just saying if my children were that frightened of their grandmother I wouldn't take them for more than a day and their grandfather would have understood. 

Jeremy seems to want us to believe June was a saint which she obviously wasn't anymore than most people are and she definitely had all kinds of problems but I don't believe she was so wicked she was the cause of everything.

Sheila was a grown woman with free will, she was either very, very ill and therefore needed real support and help or she was as some claim mildly schizophrenic and in charge of her own destiny and making her own choices....  just saying.

[Jan]

Susan,it's because I've read snippets of Colin's book that I have a different view of June. I feel he could have said a lot more but probably thought better of it. If anyone knew what life was like at home and at the farmhouse it was Colin as he'd known far more than anyone else,including Jeremy who still sings his mother's praises. I reckon he,Jeremy, didn't know the half. He couldn't have done or he'd have said before now.

Personally I am not sure why he said what he did . June could not give her version could she.

In the beginning when Sheila was being slated in the papers I can understand why he would have tried to defend her. But once Jeremy had been convicted I am not sure why  he wrote what he did . He did not have to defend Sheila anymore . I guess he thought it explained her illness?

[lookout]

I'd certainly have given her a wide berth.

Sheila was so much under June's spell that she told everyone she met or came into contact with that she didn't get on with her mother. It literally drove the poor girl insane.

Colin had told Stan Jones that " he betted his bottom dollar that June would have been the one to have mentioned foster care for the boys ". He really disliked the woman as he went on to say that " there was no love lost between Bambs and her mother ". This was when CC was being questioned,or as CC put it,intimidated by Stan Jones.

[maggie]

Personally I am not sure why he said what he did . June could not give her version could she.

In the beginning when Sheila was being slated in the papers I can understand why he would have tried to defend her. But once Jeremy had been convicted I am not sure why  he wrote what he did . He did not have to defend Sheila anymore . I guess he thought it explained her illness?

Have read some of Collin's book but difficult to comment til I have read it all but I do accept his book was very personal and about him trying to make sense of am unbelievable tragedy in his life.  I don't believe everything he wrote was particularly factually correct  but more his take, emotions and his pain.  He was no doubt very angry and June seemed to be the focus of that anger, it's all very sad but others had their responsibility as well.

[Caroline]

Well yes because Claire Powell used my thoughts in words as she wrote that on arrival to WHF when Colin had dropped them off,the two women had begun arguing as soon as they set eyes on each other.

Perhaps she did write that but she wasn't there and writer notoriously use poetic licence. Colin didn't mention it and he was THERE.