I had notlong finished my morning punishment session, caning boys for various misdemeanours, when an additional boy arrived at my study. Fergus was a third year and not on my list, although regularly in trouble around the school for minor offences.
To cut a long story short, he had come of his own accord to complain about a prefects caning. This is a very brave thing for any boy to do as I support my team of hand-picked prefects and the boy who complains is liable to find the punishment repeated if I disagree. He complained that he had been given 10 strokes for cheek - truly excessive and very serious. It turned out that he had been given five but deemed cheeky in his attitude immediately after and given a further five. I had him drop his trousers and easily counted 10 stripes, and good ones at that.
I said that no damage was done and lectured him about being more careful in future, then dismissed him. He was clearly agrieved that he felt I had taken no notice.
But I had. I summoned Parker, my head boy, and we discussed the situation and the various ways forward. The prefect involved was Simons, captain of the rugby first XV - a prefect hand-picked by me, one of the few with caning powers and already with a reputation as a mean caner. But 10 strokes was a definite no-no and must be dealt with.
Parker was to report back to my study at 6pm with Simons, who was to bring his prefects cane and whichever prefect had witnessed the punishment.
As I returned to my study just after 6pm that evening I saw three boys waiting outside: Parker, Simons and Wilson. Simons was holding a crook-handled cane in his hands and flexing it impatiently - or was he worried. I called the trio in to my room behind me.
They knew what it was about so there was no need to recap. All three knew that there was a further problem: Wilson was not as prefect and did not have caning powers, and as such was not qualified to witness a caning - another rule broken.
"Would you like me to explain what happened, sir?" asked Simons. His voice was clear but he did seem a little nervous. He was indeed a powerfully built young man and the cane seemed small in his hands - no wonder he had such a reputation already.
"No, Simons, I wish you to re-enact what happened. With Wilson here playing the part of Fergus."
That took them by surprise and there was a definite hesitation but they all know me and know that I mean what I say.
Simons turned to Wilson: "I found your manner in the dining room today unacceptable and have decided to cane you for it. Turn around and bend over!"
Wilson did as he was told. He was one of the football team and an extremely fit young man with strong legs. He had no trouble reching his ankles and as he had spread his feet his trousers were tight around his muscular thighs.
Simons took up a strong stance, measured his distance and let rip with a fine stroke. He knew that if he held back I would have him repeat it so this was done properly. Two...three...four...five all landed at the same space of time apart. Wilson made no sound or movement (I was impressed and made a mental note to arrange to cane him myself for some trivial matter at another time!). But as soon as the fifth strokes landed he stood up, turned to Simons, held out his hand and said "Thank you".
I expect boys to thank a prefect for taking the trouble to beat them but this usually happens after they are dismissed.
"Who told you to stand?!" Simons seemed genuinely mad. "And such gratitude sugegsts you like my canings. If that's the case we'll try again - and this time saty in position until you're told."
Wilson knew what was next as he had been there. He resumed his position, although slowly as his buttocks were now quite sore. Simons also resumed his position and thes econd five were delivered in precisely the same manner as the first. Wilson again made no sound or movement but this time stayed in position.
"You may stand. i hope you have learned your lesson?"
"Yes, Simons."
"Dismiss."
Wilson held out his hand (what was he thinking about his freind at this point?) and said "Thank you."
"My pleaure" replied Simons, a dubious comment I thought.
The two boys rejoined Parker. Simons still held his cane and seemed envigored by the exercise, Wilson seemed suitably chastened.
"There is no doubt in my mind that that was a 10-stroke caning, Simons, however you choose to excuse it, and totally unaccaptable. what do you have to say?"
"I realise it might seem that way, sir, but I had to maintain standards in my house."
"That will be difficult when you have your caning powers removed."
He looked genuinely shocked. Good!
"Please sir, no! I cannot rum the house with such a loss of face. Give me ten strokes now too and I will see that it doesn't happen again."
"There is no way that I can agree to that, least of all because it is what you request. I will consider alternatives with Parker here but agree to your request to receive 10 strokes. Parker, would you oblige please?"
Parker was all too delighted to do so as he would never be able to deliver 10 strokes again. Simons handed him his cane but I reached over to the window sill and picked up my senior cane instead.
"Put your cane on the desk and bend across it. Here Parker, borrow mine!"
I handed Parker my heavy dragon cane and he flexed it carefully. It really was heavy and not easy to 'swish' as a greater degree of force was needed. But he would not have to hold back with this target: the rugby captain across the headmaster's desk was an impressive sight. His powerful shoulders were wide and his waist narrow, in turn emphasising the powerfully muscled legs.
It was only after the third stroke that Parker had the measure of the cane but number four was perfect. Parker himself worked out regularly and was strongly built in the arms and shoulders. He was reputed to do 25 chin-ups in his room every morning and certainly seemed well-able to wield this cane.
10 strokes were delivered that could not have been doubted. Impressively Simons did not move or make a sound, but when he was told to stand his face registered the discomfort.
After more words from me Wilson and Simons were dismissed, no doubt to examine their stripes. Parker remained and we discussed what to do about Simons caning powers.
It was agreed that I would inform him the following morning that he would retain his powers but would himself receive one strokes for every stroke he gave. This would happen by means of the prefects' punishment book in which all canings are recorded with the name of the caner and witness. Simons would have to bring this to me whenever he wanted to clear his record and I would sign off the punishments so cleared. The only rule was that he had to clear all outstanding punishments whenever he came.
It was to be some time before he relaised that effect of this rule. If he had three boys to cane and gave them 2 strokes each he would then be owed 6 himself. But if he was already owed three than would mean taking nine in one go - in other words, he would need to keep his record clear in case! It took him sometime to master this, as I will recount in another story. It also involved more than one occasion where he had to find me and ask me to cane him before he could return to his study tocane the boys he had waiting! I eventually had to get him to agree to taking his canings from Parker when I was unavailable, and Parker agreed to use my office and cane for this sole purpose.
That should have been the end of the story, but Parker was head boy and should have been keeping a close eye on what was going on with the prefects. I broached the subject with him but he knew it was coming and knew what was expected of him. He stood and removed his blazer, picked up my cane and handed it to me: "I take full responsibility for what has happened sir and would be obliged if you could give me a severe caning."
"Certainly, Parker. How many would you like?"
"Ten strokes, please, sir."
"Bend over, Parker".