‘After we’d all put our tents up, we had to cook our own dinner. We’d brought little stoves in our bags. We were going to get badges if we managed it. Jack and I had decided we were going to have baked beans and bacon and we cooked it by ourselves. We felt proud and grown-up.

‘By then it was dark, and Dennis and Wendy had built a campfire. We were all told to come and sit round it in a circle. They made us sing songs. Stupid baby songs like Row Row The Boat and Once I Caught A Fish Alive.’ There was a glint in his eye. Barrett and Palmer looked at each other.

‘Then what happened?’

‘Gradually the other boys got tired and went into their tents to sleep. But Jack and I were determined to stay up as late as possible. We were sat on one side of the fire and Eddie and Dennis were on the other side. I remember they had a hip flask they kept handing back and forth and topping up with a glass bottle of something.

‘Jack and I were hoping we’d have a chance to sneak off and try the cigarette, but the grown-ups just wouldn’t go to sleep. Eventually Wendy said goodnight and crawled into her tent but not Dennis or Eddie. Oh no, they were happy to stay up drinking.

‘It must have been at about one in the morning. Jack and I were tired, but we had made this promise that we’d stay up later than anyone else and I suppose neither of us wanted to lose face by giving in first.

‘I remember the fire was beginning to burn out. The flames had died down and all that remained were some glowing embers. Dennis and Eddie both got up at the same time. They were a bit shaky on their feet.

‘Anyway, they said we should go with them into the woods to collect more fuel for the fire. Jack and I thought it was exciting. They had their torches and they led the way. We followed. I was actually a bit frightened. I could hardly see where I was going but I kept following the light. We both did.

‘When we got into the woods Dennis said he’d take Jack and they’d search one area and I was told to go with Eddie and search the other way.’ He stopped talking, not wanting to remember. ‘You know what happened next,’ Robbie said finally.

Barrett cleared his throat and put his hands on the table. ‘I can hazard a guess, but we need to hear it on the record.’

‘That night we went into those woods two innocent boys. When we came out again we were not the same.’ His eyes fell to the floor. ‘They did horrible, unspeakable things to us.’

‘We need you to say it.’ Palmer wished he didn’t have to press the matter.