St Augustine's Grammar School Old Boys

Whether you were unlucky enough to receive "Six of the Best" or a lesser punishment...
Fill in a docket to retrieve the event from oblivion and be entered into the Discipline Register...
(The faint hearted should should switch off sound before proceeding!)

Fill in a docket

Phil bennett
Entry year: 1970
Not doing homework
Strokes administered: 3
Headmaster

Smith
Entry year: 1968
smoking
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

Grimshaw
Entry year: 1970
Insolence
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

Stephen Fisher
Entry year: 1971
wagged school for two weeks.My dad was brought in and punishment agreed without my input.Spike started before my dad had got through secretaries office so he heard at least the first two straps being administered.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Stephen Fisher
Entry year: 1971
Various offences stretched over 5 painful years.First time wasn't that bad.I soon found out the more you went the worse it got.I think the worst was when I got caught for wagging for 2 weeks and he brought my dad in.The evil get was already hitting me before my dad had got out of the secretaries office next door.
Strokes administered: 6

Stephen Fisher
Entry year: 1971
71 entry.Mr Rice 4 on th are for not getting at least 7 on written test .Happened nearly every frenc h lesson unless I could get someone to let me copy their work which only worked it they managed 7out of 10.
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

James Smith
Entry year: 1967
Seen smoking a cigarette outside school
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

James Smith
Entry year: 1967
Seen smoking a cigarette outside school
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

Adrian Bradshaw 1965
Entry year: 1965
Flicking carrots across dining room. 4 strokes by Rev Mons Spike

Strokes administered: 4
Headmaster

john smith
Entry year: 1968
smoking
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

Tony Hamer
Entry year: 1965
Smoking
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

Tony Gaughan
Entry year: 1965
...Harry Stratton, plus nods to Messrs. Morgan & Tetlow.
(Happy Birtday again!!!)
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Tony Gaughan
Entry year: 1965
Enzyme controlled experiment in the Biology Lab Prep Room, consisting of 5 gallons of home brew fortified with 500ml pure Analytical Reagent Ethanol from the chemistry lab stockroom. Thanks to the blind eye from
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Tony Gaughan
Entry year: 1965
Joker Jeff Joke Journal!
Thanks for all the
laughs, Mr. Beeley!!!
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Tony Gaughan
Entry year: 1965
(continuation of previous).....
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Tony Gaughan
Entry year: 1965
Being caught in Physics compiling and updating the One & Only original
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Tony Gaughan
Entry year: 1965
Continual Smoking at the Farm Shop & always being too distracted to be aware of Jasper's frequent visits.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

John Smith
Entry year: 1968
Cheating
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

kevin wyche
Entry year: 1970
Homework alterations
Strokes administered: 3
Duty Master at Greenroom

Kevin Wyche
Entry year: 1970
Too many alterations on GED homework! I think my pencil was probably too thick!
Strokes administered: 3
Duty Master at Greenroom

Kevin Wyche
Entry year: 1970
Rushed Latin homework, done at lunch time as going to a Slade concert in the evening in about 1973, incorrect translation was copied by somebody else next day and both of us sent to Spike.
Strokes administered: 4
Headmaster

Kevin Wyche
Entry year: 1970
Switched changing room light on or off (I cannot remember which)during msyhem in changing room. Three of us got three strokes of the pump from McIllwain.
Strokes administered: 3

Gerrard
Entry year: 1970
Rudeness
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

James Daines
Entry year: 1968
Seen smoking a cigarette on way into school
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

John Smith
Entry year: 1968
Swearing
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

John Cournane
Entry year: 1976
Swearing
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Justin Hines
Entry year: 1975
Decided to empty the entire contents of my Shaeffer fountain pen onto the blonde locks of the lad in front (Murphy I think) during French. Mr Rice (who was a pretty passive chap usually) was majorly unimpressed and I was
Strokes administered: 3
Headmaster

Smith
Entry year: 1973
Answering back
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

H WILLARD
Entry year: 1971
Threw stones and broke windos
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Andrew Crichlow
Entry year: 1967
Failure to return library book by due date
Strokes administered: 3
Duty Master at Greenroom

Paul johnson
Entry year: 1976
Fighting
Strokes administered: 6

David Amos
Entry year: 1968
I hated Latin i was so bad always sat at the back of the class. Got caught messing around by Mr Thorpe. Amos he shouted to the front of the class i went got given my docket i got 6.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Laurence Wyche
Entry year: 1967
Forgot physics homework. In panic I wrote it on only available paper -bog paper! It seemed reasonable at the time. Mr. Kearney did not agree.
Three from Spike
Strokes administered: 3
Headmaster

John Ross
Entry year: 1975
Me and Brendan O'Brien being caught on the roof watching Miss Dolata taking a shower in the PE teachers changing room. She had been playing tennis with APJ after school. We were meant to be doing homework prior to APJ's wind band session. We had worked out that we could get on the roof via a 1st floor window and work our way along to peek through a small opening light in the roof. Only trouble was Creighton caught us and subjected us to a tirade of abuse.
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

Paul Bridge
Entry year: 1970
failure to hand in homework
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

paul bridge
Entry year: 1970
talking
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

joe smith
Entry year: 1970
talking
Strokes administered: 4
Headmaster

James Brannan
Entry year: 1972
Swearing
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

James Brannan
Entry year: 1972
Swearing
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

james brannan
Entry year: 1972
swearing in class
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

james brannan
Entry year: 1973
swearing in class
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

morgan
Entry year: 1972
insolence
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Smith
Entry year: 1972
Talking in assembly
Strokes administered: 4
Duty Master at Greenroom

Entry year: 1968
Lingering in changing rooms after PE, I was cought abusing myself by the PE master.
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

James Brannon
Entry year: 1973
Swearing in class
Strokes administered: 3
Duty Master at Greenroom

Morgan
Entry year: 1972
Insolence
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Roy Mannion
Entry year: 1968
Not sure if it was 3rd or 4th form.
Anyway,my mate Rob Mahoney and I were in the public call box by staff room.We were ringing a 'girlfriend' of Rob's who was off school sick and was a good friend of us both.We went to Maine Road together on Saturdays to watch the awesome Lee,Bell,Summerbee set up.
We were accused of 'monopolising' the telephone booth,think it was that puff Scrowston,and reported to Rev.Nose.
I stated that we were performing a good Christian act by calling the girl and showing our humanity and concern for her.
No go,the nose must have been craving another tot and decided 6 of the best for each of us.
I genuinely felt this was unjust and on way back to class was that pissed off I kicked the bottom pane of wired glass in the door.It didn't break but did shatter.
Unfortunately,that miserable faced ass hole of a caretaker was on the other side and duly marched me back to the office.
12 of the best.
18 strokes in 20 minutes....anybody beat that?
God,I hated that place!
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Mark Ellis
Entry year: 1976
Told a senior prefect- a scottish guy to f--off as he was an asshole
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

John Murphy
Entry year: 1973
Skipped school on three occasions to go down the town with friends in one week

Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

Graham Young
Entry year: 1971
Answering John Wood's question to the Scrowston's class
Strokes administered: 4
Headmaster

Bill (Billy) Evans with Kevin Turner and Henry Dillon
Entry year: 1968
Rainy lunchtime, no homework to copy, nothing to do. remember the game where you line up three pennies and have to push one between the others, the object being to block the opponent's next shot? KT & HD were playing, I was watching. Spike considered it to be gambling (they were always my pennies!) and that I was as guilty as the players because I was watching.
Administered by: Headmaster
Number of strokes (each): 6
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Ian Nuttall along with Paul Leonard and ANO
Entry year: 1968
It was the tradition for three boys to serve out lunch for the rest of the table. Paul, ANO and I were the senior members of the table at the crime scene, which was also occuppied by two boys from the year below and three first years.
We were charged on the verbal evidence of the three first years of serving out unfair portions. Why the evidence of three first years, who admittedly were showing signs of mal nutrition (a much more preferable condition to that suffered by us who ate the bloody stuff!!) was believed above the word of three upstanding members of the fourth year still rankles with me after some thirty years or so.
Anyway we were sent to see Spike, who agreed that a fourth years need for subsistence was much greater than a first years......but in the quest for fairness and in an effort to prevent boys from actually dying of starvation on school premises we had to be made an example of....
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

j finn
Entry year: 1966
Lighting matches
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Peter Good
Entry year: 1971
I refused the strap when sent out of lesson for shouting in class. Spike said I should always take my punishment, but I declined.
Strokes administered: 6

Mike Nelson
Entry year: 1971
Looking at Mr Creighton in a French class (apparently in an insolent manner).
Strokes administered: 2
Headmaster

Mark Howells
Entry year: 1971
Last lesson of 4th year before summer break. Also Mr Wood's last lesson at the school before leaving (what's up doc). Raucous cheering as bell went. Mr Wood ordered us all to sit and anyone who spoke would be sent to the boss. I whipped my tie off, waved it above my head and shouted...
Strokes administered: 1
Headmaster

Paul O'Sullivan
Entry year: 1974
This boy was found, during a French class, to be using his desk as a
Strokes administered: 2
Headmaster

Tony Hamer
Entry year: 1965
Talking too much,
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

John Timmons
Entry year: 1973
Entire class, deciding to panic and climb out of windows during fire drill, poor Ken Starkie didnt want to punish us but all were sent to Spike. Each received 2 strokes apart from Morgan-Evans who had a book shoved down his pants. And he duly got 6 of the best
Strokes administered: 2
Headmaster

Kevin O'Sullivan
Entry year: 1975
Not having homework to hand in.
In first year it was Tommo Moore for maths and, one time, I had no homework to hand in. This was because I was too thick to answer any of the questions but this, apparantly, was the same as not having done it at all.
Tommo called me to the front of the class and gave me
Strokes administered: 1
Headmaster

stuart busby
Entry year: 1975
not like kevin osullivan but still the first week. simon wood im not sure at the time if he was head boy or just a plain old prefect but he was having trouble getting a few young chaps off the field before morning assembly, i in my infinite wisdom thought i would score a few brownie points with him by helping. now my idea of help and his must have been somehow different because i threw my new school briefcase at one of the young lads smacking him straight on the head. now i dont think simon appreciatyed my help because he took me to spike where i received the usual, one on the legs, one on the back and eventually he sobered up and actually hit my arse.
Strokes administered: 3
Headmaster

Kevin O'Sullivan
Entry year: 1975
Day 1 (First year). No pencil in music class, the fact that I didn't know I needed one was irrelevent. Myself, and approx 1/3 of the class, all sent to Spike and each given the strap.
Also
Strokes administered: 3

Sean Keeley
Entry year: 1974
In third year, whilst waiting in the usual scrum formation at the bus-stop for the 371, we found ourselves being organised by a particularly arsey prefect (Scottish accent, i believe) into a neat line up against the school fence at the top of the pavement. The more astute amongst us realised that the lack of a scrum of kids by the kerbside would give the driver his excuse to drive on by, and we duly expressed our concerns the the afore-mentioned prefect. As the bus came into view, we were warned to stay where we were, which we duly did, and the bus duly sailed on by. At this point, we changed our tack with the prefect to questioning, amongst other things, the marital status of his parents at the moment of his arrival into this world. This was the clincher - whilst he accepted that he was indeed Scottish, he maintained that his membership of a Grammar School suggested that he might not actually be stupid, he was fairly certain that he was not at that moment engaged in sexual intercourse, and his parents could provide evidence of their married status at the time of his birth. On this basis, I was ordered to present myself outside Spike's office the following morning. The Monsignor was very understanding of my plight (I'd had a major bollocking already from my mum for being late home)- however, a pupil should always show respect for authority and that sadly included prefects.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Sean Keeley
Entry year: 1974
In fourth year, Phil 'Doc' Griffin sent me out of RE to see Spike for a crime that to this day I am still totally unaware of. Spike took the view that, for Doc Griff to send me out, my crime must surely have been truly horrendous, and proceeded to adminster six of the best, maximum strength. If anyone knows of my crime, please put me out of my misery!!
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Sean Keeley
Entry year: 1974
Kicking Billy Westhall up the arse in the playground in year one - I was goalie and he was definitely interfering with play. Luckily for one of us, we were collared before too many handbags landed and we ended up at the Green Room to await our fate. Billy and I remained firm friends from that day forth.
Strokes administered: 3
Duty Master at Greenroom

Paul Cartwright
Entry year: 1967

Sat in the back row of Latin (?) class hosted by Barry Thorpe, I became more interested in flicking paper pellets across the back of the classroom. The eagle eyed Mr. Thorpe saw what was going on but said nothing. However, unknown to me he quietly filled out a docket in my name, he then invited me to the front of the class to take delivery of the docket. This amused the class no end and especially my partner in crime Lawrence Coughtry. He was seen to be beside himself with laughter. His laughter was short lived, while talking through the error of my ways Mr. Thorpe quickly wrote a second docket, with Loz's name on it. As we left the classroom our 'chums' roared with laughter, we both got '6' from Spike. Ouch....
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Graham Young
Entry year: 1971
God knows !!!
Strokes administered: 4
Headmaster

Mark Dean
Entry year: 1968
Between classes, drawing a picture of a woman on the blackboard using letters of the alphabet. Punishment was reduced because it was a very poor likeness.
Strokes administered: 2
Headmaster

brian ferry
Entry year: 1976
impertinence
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

brian ferry
Entry year: 1970
persistent lateness and not doing homework
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Norman Kavanagh
Entry year: 1973
For the terrible 'crime' of leaving my gaberdine in the cloakroom overnight,I was summoned to Spike's office.Despite having given my all in representing the school the previous night at football,this counted for nothing,I was given six of the best.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Terence (Tex) Birch
Entry year: 1967
Bless me Webmaster for I have sinned:

Being an ardent United fan I decided one lunchtime to write MUFC of the blackboard of our form room (1F 1967). Unfortunately, and as there was no chalk to hand, I used the edge of a wooden rule which, as you have probably guessed, permanently marked the board. Alas all of this was watched by one Taras Cymbalisty who took great delight at my predicament and threatened to tell Pete Foley our formmaster on his return. Advantage Cymbalisty.
Deciding that the best form of defence was attack, I elected to 'carve' Stockport County onto the board as I knew Taras supported the Hatters. Deuce.
As night follows day, Pete Foley returned and asked for an explanation whereupon Taras lept to his feet and said Sir, Sir, it was Birch it was Birch! Naturally I denied Taras's account and explained that he had in fact etched the board whilst I was reading a book (???), Homer's Illiad I think.
I added, for effect, that I was sure he hadn't intended to cause permanent damage and it was just a bit of a prank.
Unable to unmuddy the waters Pete sent both of us to Spike where we repeated our seperate versions of events. Unable to break the deadlock and with Taras now hyperventilating I offered a solution in the form of an eye witness who I recalled was also sat reading that afternoon!
Spike, not being quite as clever as some of you seem to think, duly despatched me to collect my witness and good friend, the tragically now deceased, Gerry Sundquist. Naturally I was able to remind Ged of the exact order of events on our way back to Spike's office, and after a virtuoso performance that even left me wondering who was guilty Taras received six of the very best on my behalf and his behind.

There's nothing quite like schoolboy honour and that certainly wasn't anything like it.

Forgive me Taras and I'll buy you a beer at the reunion.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Harry Davis
Entry year: 1976
Failing to produce homework (more than once) and making feeble excuses
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

Barney Booth
Entry year: 1970
There were loads of us smoking at the farm.All of a sudden everybody except me and Steve Ball put their fags out. I looked around and there was Jasper, who'd come to buy fags from the Blue Rinse Lady.
"Booth and Ball-Headmaster!"
We both got 6, and banned from leaving the school grounds for a week (Oh, the cruelty!)
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

David House
Entry year: 1968
Eating sandwiches during a French lesson after being warned the previous lesson
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

barry cox
Entry year: 1969
damaged a chair having a fun fight
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

Barney Booth
Entry year: 1970
In 3G our form room was next to the Lecture Demo Room.We were throwing water bombs down at the first years in the playground.
Someone shouted "Tweedie! Run for it!"
We all split and I ended up in the nearby toilets, still with a water bomb in my hand.
Next thing Tweedie (the "popular" head boy) appeared through the door. I quickly stood at the urinal and pretended to pee. I overestimated him, because he did no more than peer over the top of the urinal. I was holding a water bomb in my hand. So he sent me to spike.
At Spike's office there was a selection of 1st and 3rd years waiting to go in.
We then got the "Come in!" instruction bawled out.
He sentenced the 1st years to 3 whacks and the 3rd years to 6. I got 3 and then he stopped. Spike never knew me from Adam all my time at Augustines so I thought he thought I was a 1st year. So I walked away. He waited until I was at the door before he called me back.He gave me another 3, still with the thick , black strap (the one that left the bruises)
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

barney booth
Entry year: 1970
Belching very loudly in the library. I was reported by Matthews junior (I can't remember his christian name)
I got sent to the green room and got two from Denny Howells
Strokes administered: 2
Duty Master at Greenroom

John Ross
Entry year: 1975
Was caught smoking
Strokes administered: 3
Duty Master at Greenroom

Willy Burke
Entry year: 1969
Year of entry '69 Too numerous to recall, there was barely a day went by without having to bend over a chair in either the headmasters office or the green room. My first visit however was quite memorable.
The previous day super footballer Big Andy McDougal forgot to bring his maths homework in.
Strokes administered: 2
Duty Master at Greenroom

Des Cox (1973)
Entry year: 1973
Singing at full soprano 3 seconds behind everyone else during hymns at assembly when caught by the eagle eyes of Spike and sent straight to his office where I had to wait while 600 pyjama boys walked past offering no signs of sympathy and then getting 6 of the hardest whacks I ever had (and I had many!)
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Terry Stanton (1972)
Entry year: 1972
Mr Hall (serious weirdo) who taught classics, used to have us recite a prayer at the end of class. After generally getting on his nerves throughout the lesson, he picked on me to recite the Hail Mary. As a good catholic boy of 15 I knew the tune but had completely forgot the words. As he thought I was taking the piss, I was duly sent to Spike. As our beloved head was a ranking officer of the church I through myself at his mercy and told the truth, I honestly couldn't remember the words. Spike took this into account and after negotiation we settled on 4 strokes.
I decided that, as my relationship with Mr Hall was not the best (I used to take the piss out of him supporting Stockport County), he was not going to catch me out again. I wrote the Hail Mary on the back of my pocket diary, Ha Ha!
The next lesson he picked on my mate Paul Douglas. Suprise Suprise he did not know the words also. I went to pass him my diary to help him out when that bastard Hall intercepted it. As we were leaving at the end of the day I asked for my diary back. He refused. I told him that inside the diary was my match ticket to watch United play Derby that evening. I said he could keep the diary i only wanted the ticket as it had cost me 20p and the match was all ticket. He said he would return it the following day. I pointed out that it was too late. He just smiled. I went home ticketless. My dad found out and went into school the next morning. I was summonsed out of class the next morning to the Heads office. When I entered there was my dad and Spike. My dad argued my case then Mr Hall entered (smiling). He said that I had called him a Bastard and that was his reason. I never did, Although from that day on I cannot think of him without thinking he was a complete Bastard.
Thankyou for hearing my confession, I've waited 25 years to get that off my chest. Who says catholicism isn't good for you!
Strokes administered: 4
Headmaster

Nick Wall
Entry year: 1969
Smoking in the pavillion in Holyhedge Park. There were 4-5 of us - myself, Bernie Flynn, John Collins, plus 1-2 others. We were actually setting fire to some newspapers in the pavillion. The park keeper reported us to Spike for smoking (true in one sense, I guess). We all went into Spike's office at the same time to receive our treatment (six of the best). This was unfortunate for me - Bernie Flynn went just before me and the sight of clouds of dust rising from the seat of his pants as each stroke was administered made me burst out in laughter. This was not well received by Spike and he added two more strokes to my backside!

Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

John Gill
Entry year: 1969
Having a brilliant fight in the art room with, I suspect, Mark Greenall and Ged Battle (it usually was). The fight consisted of hurling lumps of gum arabic around the room whilst jumping over tables etc. The gum arabic lumps shattered when they hit the wall. Unfortunately, Spike came out of his office, which was directly across the courtyard and could see us through the 2 sets of windows (eyes like a hawk that man). He didn't see the funny side or give us credit for the athletic effort involved in leaping the tables. No mercy was shown. Six of his very considerable best!
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Anthony Hulse
Entry year: 1971
Did a Judo throw on Joseph McLaughlin while waiting for the 80. Spike asked me what I deserved, and we haggled from 1 (my low number) and 8 (his high number), until we agreed on 6. Do you remember how you had to tuck your elbows into the chair so your posterior was presented properly? He also took some time choosing the right strap for the job. This time he used a flat one with five tassles at the end,.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Simon Johnson (Francis Connor,Martin Barber,Rob Byrne)
Entry year: 1973
Sent to stand outside biology lab by Griffin for fun - 2 outside each door - making faces at each other when the lads at the other ends expressions changed - caught by Matthews on the prowl. I got pushed to the front by Babs & the others - we got 4 each - Matthews naming me the ringleader !!!!!!!!!
Strokes administered: 4
Duty Master at Greenroom

Peter Good
Entry year: 1971
French woman teacher remarked that she didn't mind where we did our homework but sent me to Spike after I added, honestly, that I'd done mine on the bus that morning.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

mark brennan
Entry year: 1969
having caps ( the detonating type) 6
supplying calcium carbide 6
fighting with bernie flynn 6
Strokes administered: 6

Chris Doran
Entry year: 1974
Deliberately mis-reading a question in the Catechism in Dr. Griffin's lesson so that it read 'Is the Pope inflammable?
Strokes administered: 3
Headmaster

Steve Law
Entry year: 1975
Sent out of class by Mr Paisley for laughing during one of his poetry recitals.
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

Andrew Lomax
Entry year: 1976
While running down the corridor due to being late from class, tripped and knocked down 2 fellow classmates. Received 6 from Headmaster
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Andrew Lomax
Entry year: 1976
For Laughing in assembly, having my tie the wrong way round, endless throwing out of class, Spike once said he may present me with the punishment book as I had the most entries.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

andy walsh 1974
Entry year: 1974
firing a Diane SP50 air pistol at the notice board (situated adjacent to the class room door) in 1M
just as Jim McCabe walked in! Sorry Sir !
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Andrew Weaver
Entry year: 1972
For leaving gaberdine (i.e. raincoat) in school over the weekend.
Mitigating circumstances (I had been on a school trip that weekend and had gone straight from school with no chance to take coat home)
Arguments for the Defence heard but dismissed with no right to appeal granted.
Strokes administered: 2
Headmaster

Dave Espley
Entry year: 1975
Flicking paper pellets during one of Mr Halls' particularly raucous biology lessons.
The docket said 'firing pellets,' and when Mr Matthews enquired, 'were you flicking them?' I said that I was. This, I have to confess now, was not the complete truth. I'd actually been chewing the paper into mushy lumps, putting them into the end of a bicycle pump and launching them at something approaching light speed at the boys in the row in front. I wouldn't be at all surprised if some of them still have the scars to this day.
I received a couple of Mr Matthews' extremely feeble strokes rather than the horsewhipping I no doubt would have experienced had I confessed the truth.
Strokes administered: 2
Duty Master at Greenroom

David House
Entry year: 1968
Pat Rattigan and I convinced Martin Pickersgill that we could give him the sensation of flying. Took him to hill. Pat massaged temples and then we threw him off. Bad move. Spike was watching. 6 of best each (including Pickers).
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

Mike Maybury
Entry year: 1969
Sent by Mr O Mahoney, maths teacher, for talking in class. Told by Spike I was getting 3. When I bent over the chair, my packet of Players No. 6 fell out of my pocket so I got 6.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Chris Mazzitelli
Entry year: 1975
Telling Mr.Paisley to F*** O** during an English lesson.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

DAVID WILLIAMS (CLASS OF '74)
Entry year: 1974
ATTEMPTED RIOT, AND ARSON, DURING MATCH FIRE FIGHT, OF 44 BUS BETWEEN ST AUGUSTINE'S AND NORTHENDEN. ENTIRE BUS OFFLOADED AT NORTHENDEN SHOPS (NEXT TO FARMER'S ARMS) AND ENTIRE BUST STRAPPED, 6 OF THE BEST EACH, ON NEXT DAY, BY A PRODUCTION LINE OF FOUR TEACHERS (MR RIGBY WAS ONE, MR INGRAM ANOTHER, BUT CAN'T REMEMBER THE REST, OR THE SUPERVISING TEACHER LEADING US TO OUR DOOM).
I WAS INNOCENT, OF COURSE, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE WASN'T - DEFENCE COUNSEL WAS DISCOURAGED.
REMEMBER QUEUING UP FOR MR INGRAM, BUT GETTING MR RIGBY.
GOD IT HURT, BUT CORPORAL PUNISHMENT NEVER DID ME ANY HARM.
TRY TELLING THAT TO THE YOUTH OF TODAY, AND THEY'LL NEVER BELIEVE YOU !
YES MATRON; JUST COMING.
CRAYONS AND ROUNDED EDGE SCISSORS.
AAH.........
Strokes administered: 6

Pete Law and Ciaran McCarthy
Entry year: 1973
Insubordination after warning
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Steve Law
Entry year: 1976
caught giggling in Maths Lesson.
Strokes administered: 4
Duty Master at Greenroom

Steve (Jeff) Beck
Entry year: 1975
Wagging PE. Escaped to the library with Johnny Marr to player electric guitar pressed against the wooden tables. Caught very quickly.
Strokes administered: 6
Duty Master at Greenroom

John Beck and half of class 1L
Entry year: 1973
Riotous shouting of football chants between lessons. Caught by Adrian Jessett, 18 or so boys sent to Spike. All in his office asked one by one what they were up to. Seventeen answers of
Strokes administered: 1
Headmaster

John Beck and Mike Griffin
Entry year: 1973
Talking and generally larking about in lesson and sent to Spike. Relatively minor offence compounded by refusal to admit guilt and complex cover story regarding missing pages in text books. Case for the defence collapsed under cross-examination and six each the outcome.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Stephen Leahy
Entry year: 1969
Caught hitting Peter Callaghan over the head with a hymn book in chapel(threatened with excommunication also) highlight of school career- worth every stroke!
Strokes administered: 3
Headmaster

Stephen Leahy
Entry year: 1969
Not having my name on recorder(day 3 of 1st year)- welcome to St Augustines
Strokes administered: 1
Headmaster

Phil Howells and Peter McCauley
Entry year: 1973
Running in the corridor
Strokes administered: 2
Duty Master at Greenroom

Phil Howells (along with Pete Law, Martin Willoughby, Dave Ireland, Peter McCauley (I think) and Ciaran McCarthy
Entry year: 1973
End of year, joker Jeff Beeley up the front marking exam papers,
no work set (I think) and boys will be boys. A bit of harmless
paper plane flying from the third floor Physics lab escalated
as construction became larger until Dave Ireland dragged a huge
(A1?) piece of sugar paper from one of the cupboards, folded it
and launched it through the window. Naturally, it flew like a brick
but drew the attention of both Spike who had spotted the build
up of projectiles in the playground and Mr Beeley who couldn't
possibly miss this one and we were all duly sent. Either Pete
Law or Ciaran McCarthy managed to talk their way out of it, but
but rest of us, after hearing one of Spike's anecdotes about
how some of the chaps at Cambridge used to have water pistols,
and witnessing Martin Willoughby in such fits of giggling/fear
that he had to stuff a handkerchief into his mouth, we all
duly recieved six of the best.
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Martin Wilson
Entry year: 1974
Walking too quickly down a corridor
Strokes administered: 6
Headmaster

Peter Fay
Entry year: 1969
Caught cheating in class French vocabulary test along with two others
Strokes administered: 3
Headmaster