There was a lad whom I went to school with by the name of "Ronnie" Quibell and a more likeable lad you'd never meet. He had a soft heart and would do anything if he could.
Anyone remembering "Ronnie" will recall how difficult it was for him to complete a sentence without using a cuss word. No, I never once heard him use the most famous four-lettered one we hear to-day though.
If there was a teacher in our school who hadn't used the strap on "Ronnie" I don't know which one it would be and it would, and as a rule it would be for swearing!
He just couldn't seem to help it and we, his peers, just got used to it.
If were experiencing a heavy downfall of rain or an extremely bitterly cold day, we had the option of spending recess in the basement of the school or going outside for a little fresh air. That was a rule the school had and it was up to us to do what we chose.
One cold winter day we were outside playing "Fox & The Goose" and tossing a few snowballs around when the bell sounded summonsing us back to class.
We had just lined up to march into school when "Ronnie" said "Holy #@*&$ my hands are freezing."
Not more than six feet away was Principal J.F. Wood who couldn't help overhearing him. "Just march straight in to my office Quibell" Wood said.
"Ronnie" went to the office and, as was usually the case, Wood left the doors to his classroom and hallway open. This was for the benefit of the whole school so we would hear the thrashing students would get.
"I'll teach you not to swear in my school" said Wood and directed "Ronnie" to "hold out your hands!"
After Quibell was on the receiving end of about four whacks of the strap on each hand, Wood then asked if his hands were still cold.
"Sir," replied Quibell, "that's the warmest my hands have been all winter!"
At that point the Principal told him to return to class.
If I knew "Ronnie" like I think I did, I am sure when he mumbled his way back to class the words coming out of him would have necessitated a recall to Wood's office.
