Smoking sixth formers set study on fire

Another one of those “so why is this news?” stories from a British best-selling daily newspaper ... The Daily Herald in 1964.

SIX OF THE BEST

For Sixth Formers Who

Smoked In Secret And

Set Room On Fire

THREE sixth formers got six of the best yesterday for a secret smoking session that set their study on fore.

The boys crept to the study after “lights out” at Blundell’s public school, Tiverton, Devon.

The headmaster, The Rev. John Stanton, said last night: “They blacked out their light bulb with dark material so that they would not be seen.

“And when they went back to bed the silly asses left the light on.

“After a time the material caught fire and set the room alight.”

The blaze was discovered at 4 a.m. on Sunday.

The school’s 400 boys were mastered outside in pyjamas for a roll call.

Buckets

Then teams of boys fought the flames with extinguishers and a bucket chain until the fire brigade arrived.

But the study was burnt out.

The three secret smokers were caned by their housemaster.

They will remain anonymous. Forty-five-year-old Mr. Stanton said: “I don’t think it would be fair to give their names.

“They realise the seriousness of what they did, and are feeling very sorry for themselves.”

As published in Daily Herald 25 February 1964.

Traditional School Discipline