The Reservoir Tapes

Did you have a phone with you?

Had you planned

No, of course

no

I do realise

It is

it’s actually rather misleading, isn’t it, the walk up to Black Bull Rocks? The path isn’t as direct as it looks from the bottom of the hill. There are several narrow gorges or valleys on the way. The path drops down steeply and climbs up out of each of these.

They call them cloughs, locally, don’t they?

And the streams through each of these are running high at this time of year, so it’s not always a simple matter getting across them. The ground can be quite boggy down there?

And with the shoes Becky was wearing.

Did she struggle at all?

Struggle.

I mean, if she was having difficulty getting across the streams, keeping her feet dry. Did she express any discomfort or irritation, any reluctance? Did she ever want to stop, or go back?

And did you wait for her, at that point?

Did she catch up?

But you at least kept her in sight?

What were your feelings by then, if you don’t mind me asking?

That’s understandable. Of course.

My daughter was that age not so long ago, I know how

Of course.

Was there any discussion between the two of you about cutting the walk short? Given the conditions, and Becky’s behaviour?

Was there any disagreement between the two of you, would you say?

And by this point you’re how far up the track, how close to Black Bull Rocks?

And had there been any change in the weather?

So you had no reason to be concerned?

How were you finding the conditions? You were wearing more suitable footwear, presumably? You had kept dry up until then?

And had you seen anyone else, had you passed anyone on the track, had you seen anyone in the distance?

Now

this will, I understand

I’m sorry