I was surprised and slightly saddened to read about the demise of my old school, St Mary's Independent, known as St Mary's College during my stint from 1965-72.

However, it has reminded me of a rather amusing incident that occurred sometime between those dates.

At the end of any break period, a teacher would blow a whistle and all pupils were expected to form class lines side by side across the playground.

There was always plenty of chitchat and laughter going on, which was supposed to cease upon the sounding of a second whistle.

It seldom did entirely but on this particular occasion the teacher must have been having an off day.

He bellowed out an order that anyone that had still been talking should step forward from the class line. Incredibly, almost the entire school did this (I estimate around 300), which then became a line of pupils stretching around the playground, up the stairs and along the first floor corridor to a small office containing various items of 'torture' that Christian Grey would have been proud of.

Every single person received one hefty stroke of the cane on each hand. Of course, the further back in the queue you were, the more amusing it was to see someone walk towards and past you, tears in their eyes and hands tucked under either armpit.

This was replaced by sheer terror as the office drew ever closer and the thwack of the cane ever louder. Ah. Happy days!

John Bailey

Hedge End