It was 1966 and a year to remember for many reasons. I was at Harrow Grammar School a very strict but with excellent sport and academic results.
Debbie, my girlfriend, was nearly seventeen, a real beauty and I was in the year above. We had been going out for about six months and we felt very much in love.
She was very popular at school with staff and pupils and excelled both academically and sports-wise.
Corporal punishment was not common but used when teachers thought it was warranted. Teachers could cane boys and girls on the hands but I never saw a male teacher cane a girl, although women teachers caned both sexes.
For truancy, smoking, swearing, cheating and behaviour that warranted it girls were sent to the headmistress where the punishment was expulsion, suspension or the cane, boys had the same punishments which were administered by Mr. Jaques the deputy head.
We had to wear school uniform from day one to the day we left. The powers to be said not just to look smart but it prevented competition amongst pupils for fashion and expensive clothes.
Detentions and slippering were not used as a punishment but lines were used by the teachers that did not like corporal punishment. I had been caned twice in class, once by our music teacher Miss Leigh. One on each hand. It stung but nothing terrible.
Debbie had been caned when she was fourteen once by Miss Arther when she and three mates were late for class. One on her left palm. She said it stung but she didn't cry. She enjoyed telling me Jane cried even though she had been caned before because I had been out with her.
It was a Monday, a day we will remember forever for many reasons and one we talk about today.
Debbie, now my wife, had a maths test the next day and, unusually for her, was struggling with it.
She was in the year below me so I showed her how to do do a crib sheet and showed her how to hide it.
She was unsure at first as, if she was caught, she knew the repercussions would be severe. Having never cheated before and being a good student, she took some persuading but was frightened of failing so agreed.
Of course, it was sod's law, she was caught, disqualified and had to see the headmistress at four pm.
The head lectured her about how cheating never solved anything and she was very surprised that Debbie, a model student, had taken this path.
Miss James wrote a letter to Deb's parents to come and see her. Debbie was distraught and feared the worst and was in tears when she left the head's study.
When Debbie showed her mum the letter, she was mortified. She could not understand why Deb's would do such a thing and told Debbie to explain her action.
She told her mum the truth and her mother said she was unbelievably naive and deserves being punished.
Her mother and Debbie saw Miss James the next morning and the head said if it had been the exam and not the mock, she would have had no choice but to expel her.
Debbie's mum told the head the story and said she would deal with me later. Her mum said Debbie was so in the wrong and needs punishing but glad she was not being expelled and agreed suspension was not the answer.
Miss James said the only other suitable punishment was the cane and Debbie's mum agreed a caning would show her that honesty is the best way.
Debbie was horror-struck at being caned but relieved that it was not worse, at least she would be caned and then it would be over.
Miss James asked Debb's mum if she would like to leave or witness Debbie's punishment. Deb's mum said she has no problem watching as her daughter was fortunate to escape with a caning.
Miss James went to her cupboard and returned with the cane. She told Debbie she would receive two strokes on each hand. The cane was nothing like the one she had been punished with in class and Debbie found it hard to believe she would be thrashed with this implement.
Debbie was scared but felt slightly excited. She had had one stroke before and her best friend Jane had been caned two strokes each hand for smoking by the headmistress and said it really stung but Debbie got quite excited later thinking about it. Debbie had seen the stripes on Jane's palms and now she would find out for herself what it was like.