Memories: How six of the best felt

You bent back down again – then the second stroke – swish. Another explosion of pain as you bolted upright and wanting so much to grasp your bottom but there was four more to come before you could. – Writing in 2014, Allan “Dizzie” Downes describes a “six of the best” caning he received at Kingham Hill School, in the Cotswolds in England during the 1940s.

Six of the best - what was it like? Well that of course is something now that a schoolboy will never know, and I suspect, that there’s only a very few of us left that do!

In my time at KH – and bear in mind that this was way back in the 40’s when school corporal punishment was a force to be reckoned with where six of the best was the ultimate deterrent – I, and apart from a few complimentary minor canings of little significance and hero status, took two intensely stinging doses of six both of which were my own doing and more than well deserved.

The worst part some used to say was the waiting outside the study, other’s would say trying to take it in silence, whilst other’s dreaded returning to their class rooms in tears and obvious distress.

Now you have to remember this was a lifetime ago when most things are just an ever fading memory lingering somewhere at the back of your mind – but not six of the best!

Skipping all the ritual and formalities such as adopting the right position over the back of the chair as you were instructed to grab the bottom rail, keep your legs straight and head down, the first thing you noticed was a presence to your left.

Then the feel of the cane being lined up right across the middle of where it was about to do most good. Then a brief moment, another line up tap or two, then the air parted in an almighty swish followed by a sharp crack.

Then for a split second, nothing, then suddenly as the brain registered, a world of acute pain as the sting drew involuntary tears and your whole body jolted upwards and then as if on auto pilot.

You bent back down again – then the second stroke – swish. Another explosion of pain as you bolted upright and wanting so much to grasp your bottom but there was four more to come before you could.

Then the third did what the previous two failed to do – to make you cry out, not loudly, just a sharp yelp and then came the fourth, the point at which you really do start to feel a caning.

But, with only two strokes to go, you grit your teeth, bite into your bottom lip as your knuckles turn white grasping the chair then – swish, and pain like you would never have thought possible, then as you settle back, tears flowing.

You once again feel the line-up taps somewhere below center, a pause as your face contorts and your whole body locks up then – swish, crack, as your legs give way to the multiplying pain but it’s all over and what seemed like an eternity probably only took 40 seconds to a minute at most.

But it was a minute at most that you would never forget. And most didn't

For another of Allan’s school day memories, click here.

Picture credit: Unknown

 

For more True Memories, click here

 

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