A former teacher at Dulwich College has broken her decades-long silence to provide a damning account of the school's decision to appoint Nigel Farage as a prefect in 1981, despite widespread staff concerns about his racist and bullying behaviour.
A Letter of Protest Ignored
Chloë Deakin, then a young English teacher in her late twenties, wrote a personal letter to the headmaster, David Emms, in June 1981. Her intervention came after a heated staff meeting where colleagues objected to Farage's inclusion on a draft list of prefects. Deakin was appalled to learn that Emms intended to proceed with the appointment regardless.
"I was shocked to hear that this Dulwich boy was apparently getting away with this kind of behaviour," Deakin recalled. Her letter detailed specific allegations discussed in the staff common room, including claims that Farage had publicly professed racist and neo-fascist views, bullied another pupil so severely he had to be removed from a lesson, and participated in marching while shouting Hitler Youth songs during a cadet force camp.
Despite a cordial meeting with Emms, her protest was dismissed. Farage became a prefect, and Deakin soon decided to leave the school, later pursuing a career as a civil servant in the Department for Education.
Allegations Beyond 'Naughtiness'
Deakin strongly refutes suggestions that her objections were politically motivated or born from a dislike of the school's culture. She states she has never been a member of any political party and notes that no one anticipated Farage's future political career at the time.
Her motive, she insists, was driven by disgust at the consistent accounts of Farage's conduct. These included him being labelled a bully by younger pupils, his extreme right-wing views, and his apparent delight that his initials matched those of the far-right National Front. Having previously taught at a diverse comprehensive in Brent, Deakin found such behaviour utterly unthinkable and unacceptable.
"Of course Farage directly abused pupils," Deakin states unequivocally. "His was the only name I recall boys mentioning to me."
Fresh Testimony and a Missing Apology
Deakin's account adds significant weight to a series of recent reports by The Guardian, which has now spoken to more than 30 of Farage's contemporaries. These men have given testimony of receiving or witnessing racist and antisemitic abuse from him throughout his time at Dulwich, from ages 13 to 18.
Deakin says she was distressed to read these recent, detailed accounts of targeted bullying of individuals, which suggest his behaviour was worse than she was aware of in 1981. She finds the sheer volume of consistent allegations from multiple sources to be "painfully authentic."
She expresses profound concern over Farage's response, which has shifted from outright denial to dismissing the behaviour as youthful "banter." Deakin argues there is nothing playful or reciprocal about the targeted abuse described by victims.
"Farage's unwillingness to offer a straightforward apology to those men affected by his past behaviours is both puzzling and concerning," she states, joining calls from Holocaust survivors, former pupils, and senior politicians for him to show contrition.
With Reform UK performing strongly in polls, Deakin concludes by questioning whether a man who displayed such singular, prejudiced behaviour as a teenager, and now centres his political campaign on immigration, can demonstrate the integrity, honesty, and leadership required for the highest office. She warns that the "small seeds of large issues" are allowed to grow wherever prejudice is left unchallenged.
