By Jamie
Copyright 2022 by Jamie, all rights reserved
* * * * *HARSTONS SCHOOL : A traditional boys boarding school.
Chapter 1
Harstons
was a traditional all boys boarding school set in lovely grounds with
good facilities for the boys who attended aged 13 to 18. It was run on
very traditional lines - masters wore gowns, boys lived in houses and
there was strict discipline which was enforced not only by teachers but
by the prefects of the Upper 6th who wielded power on the day to day
basis. Many a younger boy yearned to be chosen to be a prefect when
they reached their final year at the school.
Each house was
run by a House Master, an assistant and Matron who ran the day to day
house operations but also provided the medical care for any boy who
needed it. Matrons were usually no nonsense middle aged women. There
was also an assistant matron who was often much younger and was
learning the role.
Boys slept in dormitories in their first
2 years, and as they got older they moved into shared rooms and then in
the 6th form to their own bedrooms.
Each house was about 75
boys in size, approximately 15 boys per year. From the Upper 6th there
were 6 prefects who were allocated responsibilities - one prefect for
each of the 3 junior years (13,14 and 15 year olds), a captain of
sport, a captain of activities, and the head of house. All the prefects
could administer corporal punishment using the slipper/ gym shoe.
Punishments were decided by the prefects’ court which met weekly
through the year, though prefects did have some leeway to give
whackings in the dorms where an instant punishment was deemed
appropriate. House masters usually left the prefects to run the house
and only serious issues were referred to him.
In each house
there were 2 bathing areas - both large and open plan with gang showers
and rows of sinks. One was for junior boys and the other for the 5th
and 6th forms. Both areas also had a number of baths in a side area.
Junior boys were afforded no privacy both from each other, supervising
prefects and the matron and her team.
The school had good
sports facilities including its own swimming pool, gymnasium, and
extensive grounds. Parents generally visited twice a term for weekend
breaks, but other than these times it was a closed community.
If a boy had a positive attitude, joined in, was a team player and
worked hard giving effort in all he did, he would generally have a
productive enjoyable time at school. For those who didn’t it could be a
difficult and often painful and embarrassing experience.
Our tales focus on the life and times of one house: Barnards named after one of the founders of the school.
The House Master was Mr. Simon Taylor. Who lived with his wife and
three children in a house which was attached to the boarding house
building. Mrs. Taylor taught history, and his three children were 2
girls Susan, aged 17, Emma aged 13 and a boy Simon aged 14. The girls
attended a local girls day school and Simon lived as a boarder and
would be starting in the 4th form this year.
The
House Captain was Philip Davis, and he was a firm believer that every
boy should play their part in house life, and he had no time for
slackers in anything, and as he started the year he was privately
thrilled at the chance he had been given to run the house, enforce his
will and most of all wield the cane on miscreants who didn’t shape up.
His was going to be a strict regime. And in his mind the rules applied
to everyone from the youngest boy to boys in the upper 6th who were his
own age.
Week 1 Day 1 Monday
The
second day of term is always a busy day as hordes of boys and their
parents descended on the school , their cars filled with the filled
trunks of boy’s belongings. But for the new boys arriving the day
before it was an especially exciting time for the new boys in the 3rd
Form all aged 13. The timings given to parents were that the prefects
arrived first, settled in and thus were on hand to help welcome the new
boys. In charge of the welcome was of course Matron who would settle
the boys in whilst Mr. Taylor spent time with the parents. Matron was
primarily assisted by Harry Eddington, the prefect in charge of the
year.
The 15 boys were a mixture of shy, bold, nervous,
happy, and of course were all at different stages of development. Some
would be 14 that month, others not until the following summer. Some had
started puberty and were already sprouting the hairs of manhood whilst
over half were still little boys.
Once the boys arrived,
their trunks were moved by staff to the 2 dormitories which the 3rd
form would occupy, each room had 8 beds, each with its own wardrobe and
cabinet. Between the two dormitories, there was a single bedroom
occupied by the prefect. A similar layout existed for the fourth form
on the opposite side of the floor and in between the two was the large
washroom.
Upstairs were the single and twin rooms of the 5th and 6th form senior boys.
The ground floor housed the communal areas of the house whilst in the
basement were the games area, a gym/hall and changing rooms for games
with showers. It was here in the hall that the prefects court held its
weekly meetings and a summons caused fear in any boy called to present
himself to the “Six” as the prefects were known.
Once the
parents were gone, Harry Eddington gathered his new charges into one of
the dorms and along with Duncan Unsworth, prefect for the 4th
formers, explained the daily programme in the house - wake up times,
meals, prep, bedtime, washing, dirty linen, illness, matron’s role ,
expectations about tidiness, uniform, etc. They would be told their
schoolwork schedule by their form teachers the next day, the first day
of school when they would meet the boys from the other houses. There
were 3 forms of 20 boys in each.
He then went on to explain the house rules,
"Right boys that’s all out of the way now to other stuff you need to
know. Barnards House is a good house to belong to, we have a belief
that everyone plays their part and expect maximum effort especially in
inter house games. For instance, in the cross country everyone runs, it
doesn’t matter if you come first or last as long as you try your
hardest, obviously its better for the result if you finish higher up,
but everyone who finishes earns at least a point, so all contribute. We
don’t like slackers or non triers here in Barnards.
"Now
most important for you to know is that we take behaviour seriously
here, if you behave badly or act silly you will be punished. I sleep in
the room between the two dorms, when its lights out I expect silence,
sleep is important. Anyone being stupid will be punished, I have a
slipper and I will use it. Understood?"
"Yes Eddington” came the chorused reply.
"Good. Remember that.” He looked round the 15 expectant faces, “I’m
sure not one of you will want to be the first." He paused letting that
thought settle in their minds.
“If someone is really badly
behaved, he may be called before the prefect’s court, not a place I can
assure you from personal experience you want to be. The 6 prefects will
judge the offence and determine the punishment. You gave been warned.
you address the prefects by their surnames, and the Head of House,
Philip Davis is called Sir. The 4 heads of Houses and the Head Boy are
all called Sir. Right any questions?"
There was silence as the boys tried to take it all in.
“Good, well I will leave you all to unpack. You have an hour and then I
shall collect you for a tour of the school and most importantly show
you where we eat."
Harry Eddington left his 15 charges to
their unpacking and retired to his room with Unsworth, together they
would rule the floor. They both agreed it was going to be a fun year.
Swimming
The
rules for using the school pool were simple. The 3rd formers all swam
naked. From the 4th form onwards the permission to wear trunks was
related to puberty, if a boy was still prepubescent then he was not
allowed to wear trunks as they were deemed not necessary. For other
boys it was a matter of choice. Once a boy was declared pre-pubescent
and thus a nude swimmer, they stayed that way all term regardless of
any development during the following few months. The start of each term
gave them the opportunity to gain their trunks if puberty had kicked
in. These rules usually meant that boys took advantage of wearing
trunks as soon as they could.
Each house had its own
designated swim time and here they set their own rules - for Barnards
these were decided by the prefects and each year the Head of house made
a ruling. The previous year the head of house had decided it was,
excepting of course the 3rd formers, a matter of choice. Everyone knew
that Philip Davis ruling would probably be different and waited to hear
what he would say.
In the meantime, prefects Eddington and
Unsworth had to tell the new boys the rules and judge which of the
returning 4th formers would be allowed to wear trunks in their school
lessons. A job they knew they would have some fun in doing. It was a
worrying time for some boys as the prefect’s decision was final.
Monday afternoon
3rd years tour.
After they had finished unpacking Eddington and Unsworth took the 15
boys on a tour of the House, the main school, the grounds, and the
sports facilities including the changing rooms. They finished the tour
the indoor heated swimming pool.
Eddington smiled, he knew
they would enjoy watching the boys’ reactions, "Listen in boys, here is
the pool, heated you will be glad to know, changing rooms at the far
end - a large male changing room and a small female one as staff and
teachers’ families can use the pool too.
You will have a
weekly swimming lesson in your classes and then we have a house swim
too one evening. Ours is on a Wednesday, the other houses Monday,
Tuesday and Thursday. House swim is optional, but I know in the early
sessions our swim captain will be keen to find out which of you are
good swimmers. Can you all swim?" Nods all round. "Good, now the rules.
When you arrive for swims you go directly to the changing room, undress
and leave your towels on the pegs. Then you come out and line up, no
one is allowed in the pool until the PE teacher or the house lifeguards
allow. Anyone disobeying this safety rule will be in trouble.
Understood. No mucking about in the water either. Those in charge all
carry whistles. Believe me the last thing you want to hear is the
whistle followed by your name and the order to get out. If that happens
you’ll be bent over and whacked on your bare bottom and boy that
stings."
He paused and looked at the serious young faces, he
smiled "now did anyone pick up on anything I just said which might seem
strange? "
There were some puzzled looks and then one boy tentatively raised his hand,
"Yes, Thompson isn’t it?"
"Err Eddington did you say we would be whacked on our bare bottom?"
"Well spotted Thompson, yes indeed and that’s because as 3rd years you
all swim naked, school rule, can’t change it I’m afraid. 3rd years swim
nude, we did didn’t we Unsworth?"
"Yep we did. You’ll soon get used to it boys."
Some of the boys looked a bit shocked after all they were all 13 and
many had started puberty. And there was a buzz of chatter between them
all. Eddington looked at his watch, nodded at his friend, and loudly
called them to order.
"Right quiet boys. I know for some of
you this will be a bit of a shock, others may well have swum naked at
their prep schools. Any of you?" About 5 hands went up.
"Right, I often find when things sound difficult or scary it is best to
confront it rather than put it off . So, we have time, now. We did this
5 years ago and now it’s your turn. Right, I want you all lined up
along this line as quick as you can, ready for a swim. That means
everything off boys, clothes on the benches behind you. Last one in the
line gets a whack. Go."
There was some initial hesitancy and
then a mad scramble to get undressed. All the boys were casually
dressed so they didn’t have much to take off. There were one or two who
hesitated once down to just underpants but the boys who’d swum naked
before led the way and soon 15 nervous boys were lined up naked as the
day they were born alongside the pool.
"Good. Now Unsworth who was last?"
"This boy here. What’s your name lad?"
"Simpson, Paul Simpson" he replied his voice quacking a bit at the possible punishment.
Eddington continued, "well Master Simpson you will find out as you all
will is that I never make an idle threat. But first let’s see what we
have got. Ummm a mixture I think.” He walked down the line slowly
looking at each boy taking in their assorted sized willies. "I think we
have about half n half Unsworth; do you agree?"
The 2
prefects stood together looking at the boys, a few willies bobbed, and
one boy looked as if he had the beginnings of an erection. " Yes I
think 7, shall we ask them? "
"Good idea, okay boys nothing
to be ashamed or embarrassed about but who has started puberty? Hands
up if you have. That means you can produce sperm most likely in a wet
dream first time." Hands went up, some boys clearly had hit puberty a
while ago as hairs was very evident. In all 7 hands were raised. "Looks
like we were right, no doubt some of you others will start within the
next year too. But don’t worry every boy is different! Right last thing
Simpson step forward.”
The boy stepped out of the line
nervously looking up at the prefects. “Right Simpson. See the
lifeguards chair, underneath it on a hook is an old plimsoll, go and
fetch it and no running allowed."
The nervous naked boy
headed off down the poolside, just as the door to the pool at the other
end and in walked James Hartbury, a school prefect of Hudson’s House.
Unsworth walked down towards him and after a quick, a laugh and a
smile, Hartbury went back outside. Simpson returned with the plimsoll
and handed it to Eddington.
Simpson was a slim boy, about
5ft 5 tall , young in face and clearly still a boy, his little willy
sat neatly on top of his tight ball sack. He was understandably scared
and embarrassed about what would happen next. Hartbury returned
followed by his crop of 3rd formers who all looked shocked when they
saw the line of naked boys. Hartbury silenced them of any chatter and
got them to stand quietly in a group facing the naked boys.
Eddington told the new arrivals that Simpson was going to be whacked as
he was last to get undressed and line up. He told Simpson to bend over
and hold his ankles. when the boy was in position he stepped back gave
the small bottom a few taps, drew back his arm and gave the boy a good
sound whack, probably about 50% level but enough to sting a fair bit
plus also send an echoing sound round the pool.
"Stand up
Simpson. The rest of you have been warned. Return the plimsoll" he
ordered. The boy took the plimsoll and walked back to the lifeguard’s
chair, his little bottom with a red mark from the whacking clearly
visible.
Eddington instructed his boys to get dressed. The 3
prefects chatted and then Hartbury begin to explain the rules of the
pool to his charges. As their boys were on the way out they all heard
Hartbury give the order for his group to get naked and the promise of a
whacking for the last boy in line. Soon no doubt another new boy would
be bent over receiving their first whacking.
Amongst the
leaving group of boys was Simpson nursing both his pain in the bum and
his pride, not an auspicious start to his school career. The other 14
boys, whilst feeling sorry for him, were to a man secretly glad it
hadn’t been them.