Person    | Male  Born 1944 

Abbot Laurence Soper

Categories: Children, Religion, Tragedy

Searching for a picture we were shocked to find the picture source website where we learn that Soper was, in September 2012, wanted by the police " in connection with allegations of {historic} sexual assaults committed while he was a monk and teacher at St Benedict's." St Benedict's is part of Ealing Abbey, of which Soper was abbot from 1991 to 2000.

15 May 2016: The Telegraph reports that Soper has been arrested in Kosovo and the Met Police are “liaising with the authorities”.

7 December 2017: The Guardian reports that Soper (now with the first name Andrew) was found guilty of 19 charges of rape and other sexual offences. The first victim contacted the police in 2004 but Soper did not find it necessary to flee to Kosovo until 2010. And another 7 years before he was convicted. One hopes it would all happen much quicker nowadays.

21 December 2017: The Guardian reports that Soper was sentenced to 18 years, "... the fourth man at the school to have been convicted of abuse." We are glad we can now stop following this horrible story, that we chanced upon when researching a memorial to a brave man.

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials created by the subject on this page:
Abbot Laurence Soper

Creations i

Philip Lawrence

The full text from I Corinthians 13:4-8 reads: "Love takes no pleasure in oth...

Read More

Other Subjects

Mary Tourtel

Mary Tourtel

Author and artist. Born Mary Caldwell. She studied art and became a children's book illustrator. Her husband Herbert Tourtel, was news editor of the Daily Express. In 1920 the newspaper was looking...

Person, Art, Children, Literature

1 memorial
Sacred Heart School, Hammersmith

Sacred Heart School, Hammersmith

The origins of the school date back to a nunnery in 1609. In 1869, Cardinal Manning decided to convert it into a seminary, and had John Francis Bentley (the architect of Westminster Cathedral) draw...

Building, Children, Education

1 memorial
Central Foundation Girls School

Central Foundation Girls School

Moved from Spital Square in 1975 to the building in Bow Road.  Spitalfields Life reports on a 2013 school reunion at the old building, which is now Galvin Restaurant - old photos and reminiscences.

Group, Children, Education

1 memorial
Coram's Fields

Coram's Fields

The memorial at the entrance to these fields tells how this playground came into existence. It is the only public space in London where adults are not allowed without children.

Place, Children, Gardens / Agriculture

3 memorials
William Hamley

William Hamley

Founded Hamleys toy shop. Born Cornwall.

Person, Children, Commerce

1 memorial