April 1938: This story could be true, but it might be wishful thinking, either way it is in wide circulation among my former school chums at Greyfriars.
It involves Quelch, a wrathful form-master with the fiercest temper. No class was completed without him giving at least one boy a stiff Six with his ashplant. The canings were fierce and marks stayed on a boy’s body for many days.
Upon leaving Greyfriars, a boy called Cherry took up boxing and became a contender for the British Boxing Belt.
Cherry returned to Greyfriars to seek out Quelch in his study. Cherry was no longer a meek 14-year-old boy and he towered over the master. Quelch – a coward at heart – was overwhelmed and called for help but none came.
Cherry grabbed one of the many canes dangling by their handles from a hatstand. He flexed it and ordered Quelch to spreadeagle himself across his desk as if he were a delinquent schoolboy. Quelch begged Cherry for forgiveness and clemency; considerations that he never afforded his own boys. After much protest and realising that Cherry had the better of him, the master did as instructed.
Some versions of the story have it that Cherry ordered Quelch to first lower his bags (and drawers too, according to some) and once he had obeyed, Cherry administered to the schoolmaster the thrashing of his life.
I cannot say whether this story is true, but personally, as one of Quelch’s many victims, I sincerely hope that it is.
Words: Richard Rooney
Illustration: A.I.
Flash Fiction 250
Flash Fiction 250 