Corpun file 25636 at www.corpun.com

Daily Express, London, 3 March 1964, p.4

'Flog on!' say the boys at Eton

Only one in four has objection to the cane

By Express Staff Reporter

Click to enlarge

THE question: was: Any complaints about the school's flogging arrangements? And the answer from most of the boys at Eton College, even those on the receiving end, was "No."

Apparently they are quite happy about taking six of the best -- or at least they have no grouse.

In fact only 23 in every hundred Etonians want flogging abolished, according to "opinion poll" figures published yesterday in the school's newspaper, the Eton College Chronicle.

The corporal punishment meted out at the school (fees around the £500-a-year mark) falls into three classes.

Captain's right

The head master administers the floggings in the case of senior boys.

The lower master lays it on for the younger boys.

And some of the senior boys themselves, principally the captain of the school and the captains of the houses, have the right to cane their schoolfellows.

The College Chronicle asked a "random sample" of the boys if they were satisfied with these arrangements.

The answer: About 20 per cent said that punishment by the senior boys should be dropped.

But the remainder preferred to leave things as they are.

The Daily Telegraph, London, 20 March 1964

Search for Wellington schoolboy

Daily Telegraph Reporter

ABOUT 250 senior boys at Wellington College, the £500-a-year public school at Crowthorne, Berks, searched the grounds and outbuildings yesterday for a boy who disappeared a fortnight ago.

The boy, Michael Brian Robbins, 16½, slipped out of his dormitory at Hill House early on March 5, while the other boys and staff were asleep. He had borrowed £1 from another boy the previous night.

Mr. G.H. Stainforth, the headmaster, ordered the search yesterday after fruitless inquiries by school staff, police and the boy's stepfather and mother, Lt.-Cdr. and Mrs. J.D. Cox, who live at Cedar Cottage, Saltern's Lane, Old Bursledon, Hants.

Before the search started, Mr. Stainforth assembled the boys and told them that if any of them had any clue to the missing boy's whereabouts they must disclose it. He issued a photograph and description of the boy to the Press and appealed for information.

Robbins is said to be 5ft. 2in. tall, weighing 7½st. He has fair, rather untidy hair, with an indistinct parting, and a fresh complexion. He is thought to have been wearing brown jeans and carrying a light brown duffle bag when he disappeared.

Mr. Stainforth said Robbins had been beaten for smoking at the end of last term, and had recently been in other disciplinary trouble, but nothing serious.