Iain Peters Opens Up About Childhood Abuse and Lifesaving Climbing Journey
Iain Peters, aged 77, has revealed he was sexually abused weekly by John Earle during his time at Upcott House preparatory school in Okehampton, Devon, between the ages of 9 and 13. This abuse occurred over approximately five years at the now-closed boarding school. John Earle later became a presenter of programs such as Treasure House and Tom Tom, and was a storyteller for the children's show Jackanory. Peters reported the abuse to police in 2015, which led to Earle admitting six counts of indecently assaulting a boy and subsequently being jailed in 2017 for four years.
Peters authored a memoir titled The Corridor, which focuses on climbing's significant role in his life and how it helped him cope with trauma. The book won the Boardman Tasker Award for mountain literature in November 2025. According to Peters, climbing saved his life and sanity, assisting him in managing roughly five decades of PTSD. It enabled him to travel extensively to places including the Alps, Himalayas, and Cordillera Darwin. While engaged in climbing, Peters could mentally distance himself from the abuse he suffered, as concentrating on his physical survival on rock faces prevented him from dwelling on his traumatic past.
The abuse and its long-term effects influenced significant life choices for Peters, such as turning down a Cambridge scholarship and working for a period at a strip club associated with the Kray twins. He has since been married twice and currently resides on the North Devon coast. Peters hopes that by sharing his story, other survivors of abuse will feel encouraged to come forward, helping to reduce the stigma and fear associated with reporting such experiences.
