The Library of Spanking Fiction: Wellred Weekly


Wellred Weekly
Volume 1, Number 8 : June 3, 2012
 
Articles
Items of interest regarding all things spanking

Recollections: Public Punishment (cont.)
by Fiona

I can't remember very much of his address to us except that stealing was a very serious matter whether it was at home or abroad, that they had let down not only themselves, the school and their parents but by breaking the law in Belgium they had shamed the whole of England. The punishments would be severe.

After all these years I can only remember the names of two of the boys. There was James who was a fairly close neighbour of mine. He was actually rather nice and wouldn't hurt anyone and I was surprised to see him there. He looked very frightened. Our eyes did meet for a second and although I tried to offer a small smile he looked away very quickly. Right at the end of the queue was George, the school bully. He really fancied himself but even he, the toughest boy in the school, couldn't hide his nervousness.

I can remember how Mr. Goddard ended his comments. "And now to the business of the afternoon."

Saying nothing more he removed his academic gown and taking his time he slowly folded it and placed it on the table in front of him. He then took off his suit jacket and that was placed alongside his gown. I was shocked I had never seen the Headmaster when he was not formally dressed and I remember, just like my Dad, he wore braces to keep his trousers up. I think it was the first time I understood that he was just a man and not a God. Finally, whilst making sure he was looking at everybody in the hall he undid the right cuff of his shirt and rolled up his sleeve. Picking up one of the canes he had placed on the table he walked off to behind the curtain instructing, Mr. Bailey, "Bring the first boy back here."

Bailey, pulled the boy by a bit of his hair near his ear and almost dragged him behind the curtain. We seemed to be waiting ages before hearing the first swish of the cane and the loud report as it landed. The caning was not rushed and I guess there was about 15 seconds between each stroke. As he had been taken, the first boy, ginger haired I seem to remember, was dragged back to his former place, only this time he was sobbing at the end of his traditional six of the best.

"Stop your snivelling boy," sneered Bailey in a really nasty and cruel manner. He was not a very nice man at all. The second caning seemed to follow the pattern of the first the and yet another sobbing boy was brought back. James was the third to be punished and I held my breath. I could just hear some mumbled instructions quickly followed be the first swish of six. I could only imagine what poor James was suffering and my heart went out to him fearing he wouldn't be able to take his beating very well at all.

Once again on that day I was surprised. Although very pale, James had not shed a tear despite his discomfort. Of all the boys on the stage he held his head high and looked straight ahead. It was some years later that I talked to him about this incident when he said that when he was taken behind the curtain Mr. Goddard, although he spoke brusquely to him, was almost kindly.

"I know you didn't instigate these thefts nor did the two others I've seen but you were involved and allowed yourselves to be bullied into it. You have to be punished. Do your best. Now touch your toes and take what's coming."

James told me those few words helped calm him down and whilst the caning hurt an awful lot he was able to keep from blubbing - just. He even said the Head nodded to him in almost an approving manner as he was led back to the stage.

Mr. Goddard followed James out and walked back to the table. What was happening? Surely he wasn't going to let George off? No. He put down the cane he had used so far and picked up the darker rod and pointing to George ordered, "Follow me young man."

George had been caned several times before and attempted, almost successfully to strut behind the curtain. This time we could hear clearly what was being said by the Head. "I think Mr. Bailey we'll have this boy bent over the chair here and you had better hold him down. We shall stop his bullying and thieving antics this very afternoon."

There was a deathly silence in the hall and all that could be heard was the shuffling of feet behind the curtain. Suddenly there was a different much deeper and almost a humming sound in the split second before the cane hit home. It must have taken George completely by surprise for there was a loud yell and he screamed out "No more, please. It hurts so much. No more."

Again we heard the Head speaking. "Don't be such a wimp boy. Everyone else has taken their punishment. You will too. Hold on to him tightly Mr. Bailey."

The caning continued and George's screams were pitiful. I think a lot of us including some of the boys were having difficulty breathing properly so brutal did the thrashing sound. Eventually the sixth stroke had been delivered and all that could be heard was a loud sobbing from George. He was brought out by Mr. Bailey who in his unique sneering way sniffed as he held George at arm's length.

"Stand there you wretch," he instructed. "Not so brave now. It serves you right."

"Thank you, Mr. Bailey." The Head returned to the stage and looked towards Janice and Wendy who were both shaking and by now crying wondering what was going to happen to them.

"Luckily for you two, local authority regulations forbid the caning of girls but I can assure you Miss Adams has something very unpleasant for the pair of you as well."

The Head turned towards Miss Adams. "Take them away, Miss Adams, and inform them of their fate. A week of detentions. I think cleaning and toilet blocks were mentioned if I remember rightly."

Mr. Goddard picked up both his canes and as he carried his jacket and gown over his arm he said, "All of you beware. Thieving and bullying will not be tolerated in this school and what has happened this afternoon will seem like a picnic if any pupil tries anything of this sort again."

Briskly he began to walk from the stage, we all stood and after the Head had departed we were dismissed back to our classes.

The two girls were indeed given a week of detentions and were required to clean the girls' toilets and I sometimes wonder whether or not they had the worst punishment.

In later years I became friendly with Miss Adams, a friendship that lasted thirty years until she died when she was in her late seventies. We discussed this matter from time to time and she always defended the Head saying his actions that day, although severe, ensured the bullying stopped and there was no shoplifting by pupils in the three years she was Deputy Headmistress before taking over a school of her own.

So, I suppose the action taken had the desired result and although I think we were all frightened by the events of that afternoon as the school became larger (1,800 pupils by the time I left) and whilst caning was still occasionally administered to the boys it was by and large a happy place. It was however a disciplined environment, boundaries were clear and no doubt those of us in the first intake were molded by the Head and teaching staff to help reinforce the school's ethos.

It could be what that memorable Wednesday afternoon was all about.




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