BIG BOYS DON’T CRY Official Trailer (2022) The life of Paul Connolly

Many others suffered various forms of abuse by the home’s staff and the housemaster, Bill Starling, was eventually jailed in 2001 for 14 years for the horrific crimes he committed.

Big Boys Don’t Cry is a story of perseverance in adversity as Sue Bell OBE, Clinical Director and CEO of Kids Inspire, has remarked:

“Paul Connolly’s story is one of hope. After experiencing years of extreme abuse at St Leonard’s children’s home in Essex, followed by years of gang-related violence in London, he turned his life around. Despite leaving the care system illiterate, today Paul is a specialist physiotherapist and sports injury expert, personal trainer and best-selling author. He works with charities and advocates for victims of historical child abuse. Above all else, he is the proud father of two boys.

We provide specialist trauma-informed therapy and support to children and young people just like Paul. Our sincere thanks go to him for supporting Kids Inspire’s services, raising awareness of the adversity children and young people can face and for inspiring hope for a positive future.”
Paul is so pleased to be working with Kids Inspire again and on this special screening of the film based on his life:

“After I first published my story in Against All Odds I have been contacted by hundreds, if not thousands, of people thanking me for opening up about what went on in children’s homes in the UK in the 1960’s and 70’s. My most recent book – Not Normal is the inspiration for Big Boys Don’t Cry and gave me an opportunity to tell even more of our story – especially on behalf of those who are no longer with us or who felt unable to speak up in the way I have.

The books and now the film have opened doors I never expected and shone a light where many still tried to hide – I have been to hell and back not just with my early experiences, but in telling my story through the books and now this film. It cost me nearly everything I hold dear, but it must be told. Even now there are pressures on children from many directions and abuse takes on many forms.

Kids Inspire do amazing work and I hope that between us and with this film reaching a wider audience, we will continue to make positive changes together.”

Big Boys Don’t Cry will be screening in the UK with special charity partners + available on DVD from 5th September. Available to rent & buy on VOD from 7th October 2022.

#BigBoysDontCry #PaulConnolly #MichaelSocha

[juliecoop]

So unbearable to imagine how many poor souls are out there living with such trauma, hidden for years and that people around may see unacceptable behaviour from them but not know why. Defenceless children being abused by adults makes me sick, it is the epitome of evil!!! I am a firm believer in what goes around comes around and these monsters will get what they deserve, eventually. Thank you Paul for sharing your story and helping others to realise you can change your path in life. Brilliant!!

[johnkamau]

I met Paul Connolly today in Dubai...I may forget him with time but I will never forget the lesson he taught me...KINDNESS TO THE WORLD💕💕💕

[sharonkeery]

I just watched this film. My heart broke for all those children. God bless you Paul for surviving & sharing your life with us. 🙏❤

[andreaphelps]

I cried through all of this film heartbreaking. The acting was amazing 😢

[IrishWolfHound]

Amazing movie. I am glad Paul is living his best life.

[sylvia]

This was so totally heartbreaking 💔 those poor children 😢

[bwabymafia]

Just watched this earlier today, was so sad what these young boys and girl went through

[michellechilton]

I’ve just watched this.... so sad. Acting was brilliant!!

[thatgamingguy]

Happend in hornchurch. Its been knocked down now and is a houseing estate.

[philsams]

challenging and good …. well worth full look

[TrollingHistory]

Don't need to tell me mate. I went to UNDERLEY HALL BOYS SCHOOL kirby or Kirkby Lonsdale lancs.

It ran from the 80s till mid 00s I was there 2000s watched the towers there. I was tricked into it too. Told were going to view a school then dumped me there with bag I didn't know about. It didn't hit me until shower time.

I've been dumped here that's it 5-6hrs away by motorway. A dorm full of bad boy wannabes and actual bad boys. Mayb a mental condition or two in some.

Previous cases are still on going in court from the 80s 90s but I'm lucky I didn't have anything bad happen to me whilst there.

I arrived oblivious to my arriving so I had nothing worth stealing and I had bleach blonde hair which made me a magnet idk but by the end of school that day I was already smoking buddies with the top two lads in year 10 the year 11s had left. 2wks till summer holidays then restart as yr10.

Later i had to wait a month to get home for a weekend. Which is more like 36hrs if that. Most of Friday and Sunday on the road traveling. To or fro. By taxi. 😮 there was 3 Leicester lads though so they got their money worth.


One day a care staff guy playing pool he fouled I laughed grabbed the white and he wrapped my hand so hard with his cue outburst watever I just looked at him like daFuq and he made me want to look strong its nothing. So I did.

Later he set me upon another student "go get him" which I did but didn't hurt my class mate just made him look stupid.


One time a school side teacher took me and dorm mate for activities in his class room each class had PCs or Segas. The teacher gave my freind pack 10 cigs. Then left us alone with bottle of coke 500ml on his desk. My freind soon zoned in on it and laughed its vodka. So then he nailed it. Was psst acted psst either way it was funny to me. But the teacher got sacked.


I've always been conflicted by that guy on the one hand he was cool asF didn't creep me out at all. But then again it was my first time going with that teacher and his main students were year 6's young boys.

But I'll never know if he was a bad guy but I think he was the closest I got to that.


Except Steven a psycho friend I met within 1min of sitting down once I was his shadow I was set. But he gave me chills bad way not gaye way behave. I told you I was lucky.

But one day me and Steven got abit boisterous with our lady assistant.

The biggest joke about our school was all these lads expelled from school locked away and they hire fresh from uni beautiful women to follow each class.

But even the older women with attention to their look nice hair etc keeping up with the younger women mayb 😂 but god they drove us wild.

So me and Steven got abit stupid saying jokes to our lady LSA fun and games then he slapped her azz. She told him off but we laughed.

So then. I slapped her azz too. I got told off but felt bad and apologised. Then I left the room have no idea what happened in there after.

I think there was a police interview but not much but Steven and the lady weren't seen again at school next term.


I Later learned from friend there he's gaye and he'd buddy up with another at night 😢 made me feel sick when he said bcos that was my room too. Plus that dorm had rooms of 4.


The older you get the less beds per room. Yr11 got 2 beds per room. Or if staying off premises at the lodge single rooms 😮

Those care staff guys were awesome role models the main guys they'd tell you you'r 💩 and why but it was good.

I actually missed the place. But it was closed down mid 2000s and opened up for disabilities kids instead but that place closed down fast.

Overall I'm glad I went to Underley Hall boys school. Not garden school that adjoins the grounds. Mixed school that place is. Underley Hall was boys only.

But we had motorbikes and cars to play with which made up for the no girls.

We'd day dream about jumping over their 15ft wall into their school then seducing them in their beds each night.

Then afew of them would coke to our school for sport event watever use our gym and woooo boy... What a bunch of munters damn. Is that their rugby team or what 😅

One kid one of if not the best kid in the school year above me always did everything the best top grades never smoked or something. Just straight laced and hung with the popular lads top boys #1 and #2 and suddenly one night he cut his wrists up and walked the halls smoking and bleeding with scared staff no idea what to do. They want to submit him but he's cut up so can they?

They'd hold you down and stretch you submission tap out stuff but you can't tap out. You have to not struggle be calm.

Go limp for X amount of time whilst they tear your muscles apart deciding if your calm now. 😂😂😂

Again I was lucky there I never got restrained by staff. Not red raw anyway. Ide surrender when they charge. I'm cool. We cool.


Other lads looked like lobsters after a 30min screaming tussle. I think some kids liked it. Especially when it was all women 🙄