Sir Ranulph Fiennes, polar explorer bullied at Eton: I was an attractive boy, and it was the norm for any boy considered a pretty boy to be wolf-whistled at. They'd sit on their window ledges above, whistling and shouting "tart, tart." Such remorseless nastiness squeezed every last trace of self-confidence from me. At one point, I stood on Windsor Bridge and contemplated throwing myself off.
Kate Winslet, tormented at school because of her weight:
I became shy because I was overweight. At 16 I was 13st and was called "Blubber". It was pathetic and childish, but girls are so catty. It lasted for about two years. Eventually, I must have told my mother, and she took it up with the masters. They dealt with the situation without exposing my identity. I think that's very important today in cases of bullying.
Tessa Sanderson, Olympic champion javelin-thrower. Subject to racial abuse throughout her school life:
There was this boy who we used to call the cock of the school , who'd boss everyone around and push in front of the queue. The abuse was stuff like, "Hey, nigger! I'm talking to you, blacky."
Guys would call me things like "coon" and "golliwog". In those days, golliwogs were on the jam jars and we black kids hated them.
Martyn Lewis, terrible term at school in Northern Ireland:
The fact that I was born in Wales may have played a part. My tormentors were a clannish group. I didn't tell my family. For some reason, I felt ashamed that it should be happening to me. It lasted only a term. I developed a dreadful stammer, which, alerted my parents.
Kate Winslet, tormented at school because of her weight:
I became shy because I was overweight. At 16 I was 13st and was called "Blubber". It was pathetic and childish, but girls are so catty. It lasted for about two years. Eventually, I must have told my mother, and she took it up with the masters. They dealt with the situation without exposing my identity. I think that's very important today in cases of bullying.
Tessa Sanderson, Olympic champion javelin-thrower. Subject to racial abuse throughout her school life:
There was this boy who we used to call the cock of the school , who'd boss everyone around and push in front of the queue. The abuse was stuff like, "Hey, nigger! I'm talking to you, blacky."
Guys would call me things like "coon" and "golliwog". In those days, golliwogs were on the jam jars and we black kids hated them.
Martyn Lewis, terrible term at school in Northern Ireland:
The fact that I was born in Wales may have played a part. My tormentors were a clannish group. I didn't tell my family. For some reason, I felt ashamed that it should be happening to me. It lasted only a term. I developed a dreadful stammer, which, alerted my parents.
