More projections from her blog
“Away from almost everything else we have to keep in mind that we’re talking about the mid 1980s when understanding was comparatively close to non-existent and acceptance was even less. Within that, we can see just why Jeremy and Sheila’s parents did all they could to try and keep it in house. A family’s business is its business, after all, and within an extremely small community in which everyone’s affairs were the subject of the idle chit-chat, you would be livid at the idea of your daughter’s struggle with schizophrenia being reduced to the “Ooooh did you hear” of the day.
As a race and as a country we are, even in 2013, embarrassed and scornful of things we don’t understand. If it’s beyond your comprehension, just take the piss out of it – that’s the British way. And unfortunately that was the way in 1985, too. Jeremy himself detailed to me in some pain about the fact that his family were at times seen as the funny farm – so to speak – of their local community; those loopy Bambers and their crazy daughter. That’s just how things were.
Out of sheer embarrassment, that is unfortunately why back at Jeremy’s trial, those who stood to benefit from his conviction – in whatever manner – helped paint the picture that Sheila’s mood was of calmness and sound mind in the hours and on the days surrounding the murders. Why, outside of their own little community bubble would they want to share what they saw as the shame of having someone 'like that' living among them? For a lot of them it was all about keeping up appearances - to not lose face, and out of selfishness and greed for some of them too.
This woman, Poppy seems disturbed.
She talks utter nonsense. And as if the locals would tell Jeremy to his face that they called the family “The Funny Farm”...that’s something HE’D say.
That goes against all the views from villagers who held the Bambers’ in high esteem (one even alluded to them as like “royalty”!)
And no-one outside knew that Sheila or June had ever suffered breakdowns or MH problems, as the family didn’t discuss their private business with outsiders.
Jeremy Bamber certainly attracts the nuts!