The 50-Year Secret: A Secret That Should Be Told

By Eggy Hepburn

This is a true story of physical, mental and sexual abuse of a child by someone who you trust the most – a father. Taking place in the ’60s where this sort of crime was unheard of, let alone reported as nobody believed that it happened, this book is full of funny stories and anecdotes but also sadness as the story unfolds eventually ending up in Crown Court.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: Jul 30, 2021
• ISBN: 9781398409132

Eggy Hepburn

Eggy Hepburn has led a colourful and amusing life, spending childhood in Aldershot to later serving for 24 years in the Royal Navy. During his early life, a person who was supposed to protect and nurture him into adulthood abused him to such an extent that Eggy sought police assistance after 50 years of hiding it, which eventually ended in Crown Court. Once the secret was revealed, all of his siblings and family stood by him as he slowly went downhill and spiralled into depression, especially as his mother passed away before the case in court. He is now on the road to recovery, where there is light at the end of the tunnel, getting brighter each day and the love and support from family and friends is immeasurable.

Book preview

The 50-Year Secret

A Secret That Should Be Told

Eggy Hepburn

Austin Macauley Publishers

The 50-Year Secret

About the Author

Dedication

Copyright Information ©

Acknowledgement

About the Author

Eggy Hepburn has led a colourful and amusing life, spending childhood in Aldershot to later serving for 24 years in the Royal Navy. During his early life, a person who was supposed to protect and nurture him into adulthood abused him to such an extent that Eggy sought police assistance after 50 years of hiding it, which eventually ended in Crown Court.

Once the secret was revealed, all of his siblings and family stood by him as he slowly went downhill and spiralled into depression, especially as his mother passed away before the case in court.

He is now on the road to recovery, where there is light at the end of the tunnel, getting brighter each day and the love and support from family and friends is immeasurable.

Dedication

This book is dedicated to Gwenny, love you, Mum.

Copyright Information ©

Eggy Hepburn (2021)

The right of Eggy Hepburn to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by the author in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

All of the events in this memoir are true to the best of author’s memory. The views expressed in this memoir are solely those of the author.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781398409125 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781398409132 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2021)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Acknowledgement

My heartfelt thanks to my wife and children for all of their help in getting me through the dark times.

My thanks to my stepdad, Steve, who has been my father since joining the family all those years ago.

Thanks to my four sisters who finally understood why I never had a relationship with my biological male adult.

Thanks to Sean and Jason at Surrey Police in Guildford SIU.

Thanks to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Many thanks to the Royal Navy for the use of the pictures in accordance with the UK Ministry of Defence © Crown copyright (1975–1986).

Thanks also to Austin Macauley for believing in this book and making it a reality.

This is a true story of something I have kept hidden from my family for 50 years. It is about a subject that is quite prevalent these days and it is about an event in my life that did happen and has ended up in Crown Court.

I have decided to tell the story of my life as there must be others who have been in the same situation and, like me, have not said anything. Everything you read is true, there is no need to lie or fabricate anything. I hope you discover that there are no winners or losers and find a lot of laughter but also sorrow and sadness as I reveal the secret.

As it involves my family, I have changed their names.

My name is Eggy. You might ask…an odd name? This nickname was given to me by a school friend and neighbour when I was about six years old and I have always been known by that name and I had it changed by Deed Poll!!! As in all things in life, you cannot change your birth certificate but every other document (passport, driving licence, bank details etc.) can be.

Quite handy for me as there must be one Eggy Hepburn so going through passport control is a breeze with the odd ‘an unusual name’ from the officer.