Early in ECW’s reign, it became a Government requirement that all corporal punishment should be recorded, mainly for the future entertainment of old boys! The record begins in 1958 and ends in 1974, but only those pages up to the end of WBHS in 1968 are reproduced here. Don’t panic – all names have been blurred out, but if anyone is keen to know who was the lucky recipient of any particular punishment, feel free to ask by email.
It is interesting to note that “six of the best” was a very rare occurrence. Indeed, I spotted only one – for defacing school furniture.
There seem to have been a lot of mass canings – often for “attending a fight” or “condoning a brawl”.
The tariff (that is, how many strokes were administered) did seem to vary enormously, and obviously consistency was not a worry for ECW! Some of the offences for which caning was used seem laughable today. My favourite is 3 strokes for “singing at the end of morning service”.
One name (surname beginning with M) seemed to crop up several times on every page in the early 60s. I would love to know how he turned out, for it was clear that he did not respond well to authority!
In my day, the punishment was always carried out at break, in the Headmaster’s study, whose window was clearly visible from the tennis courts and nearby playground. Great entertainment. There was always another member of staff present, and his initials were recorded in the book.
If you have any memories of punishments (corporal, or otherwise; yours or others’) do share them!
