April 11th 2024.
The small and peaceful village of Fenny Compton may not seem like a place that would be at the center of a national scandal, but in 2009, it became just that. This quaint village, located in the heart of the Warwickshire countryside, played a crucial role in what would turn out to be one of the biggest scandals in recent UK history. It was here that the first meeting of ex sub-postmasters and mistresses affected by the Post Office Horizon scandal took place, as depicted in the ITV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office.
The repercussions of this scandal were devastating – over 900 people were wrongly prosecuted, with some even facing imprisonment. Others were left financially ruined, while some even attempted to take their own lives. One such victim was Martin Griffiths, who tragically ended his life. The meetings held in Fenny Compton served as a beacon of hope for these victims, laying the foundation for their fight for justice.
Thanks to the determination and resilience of the members of the meeting, a High Court ruling was made in their favor, placing the blame on the faulty Horizon IT system. They also managed to secure compensation schemes for the victims. However, their fight is far from over. With only 95 convictions overturned so far and an ongoing inquiry into the scandal that could take months to conclude, the battle for justice continues.
So why was Fenny Compton chosen as the starting point for this fight? Well, for starters, it is a charming village located just eight miles north of Banbury. Its name, derived from the Anglo-Saxon words for ‘marshy farmstead in a valley’, adds to its quaint and idyllic charm. Apart from its ties to the Post Office scandal, the village is also known for being the birthplace of the All-Purpose Electronic Computer, a prototype built by Andrew and Kathleen Booth.
The first meeting of the Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance campaign group was held in the village hall of Fenny Compton. It is not clear why this particular location was chosen, but in the TV drama, Alan Bates is seen randomly pointing to the village on a map. Around 30-40 ex sub-postmasters and mistresses attended this meeting, marking the beginning of a long and arduous journey towards justice.
But what exactly happened in the Post Office Horizon scandal? In 1999, the Post Office introduced a new IT system called Horizon, which turned out to be faulty. It displayed cash shortfalls where there were none, leading to false accusations of theft and fraud against hundreds of sub-postmasters. The scandal was later dramatized in the ITV series, Mr Bates vs The Post Office. The Justice for Sub-postmasters Alliance campaign group put pressure on the government to investigate the issue, eventually leading to a landmark High Court ruling in 2019 which held the Horizon system responsible. The Post Office was forced to pay £58 million in compensation to 555 ex-subpostmasters and mistresses involved.
One of the key figures in this fight for justice is Alan Bates, who has not given up despite facing numerous obstacles. This week, he gave evidence at the Post Office Horizon IT Inquiry and continues to campaign for a wider compensation scheme for all victims. The village hall, known as Oddfellows Hall, where the first meeting took place, now serves as a meeting place for the Scouts club, the Women’s Institute, and even hosts a monthly cinema. Its current treasurer, Kate Carless, shared that they have had people stopping by to take pictures of the hall, considering its significant role in history. In fact, one Google review even suggested that it deserves a blue plaque.
Although Fenny Compton was instrumental in the fight for justice, the TV drama Mr Bates vs The Post Office was not actually filmed in the village. The scenes set in Fenny Compton were shot in Pratts Bottom, Kent, while other locations included Llandudno and Tatsfield in Kent, Sevenoaks, and Pilgrims Way in Westerham. According to the show’s director, James Strong, Kent was chosen as many of its villages were the perfect backdrop for the small, traditional English towns where the sub-postmasters were based.
The villagers of Fenny Compton take immense pride in the role their village played in bringing justice to the victims of the Post Office Horizon scandal. Many have expressed their support and admiration for the campaign group and their relentless efforts. Dozens of sub-postmasters who were wrongly accused of stealing money returned to the village hall for a special BBC Breakfast segment, and former villager Peter White took to social media to express his support and pride for his village. Another villager, Alezandra Eborall, shared her heartfelt sorrow for the victims and hopes that justice will be served. In fact, Mr. White has even launched a campaign to get Alan Bates to return to Fenny Compton for a Q&A event at the village hall.
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