Glengreave College was a college of further education set in the remote highlands of Scotland in the 1950s and 60s. The college, set in a crumbling ancient building, was home to around 120 students specialising mostly in engineering, bookkeeping or the classics. Students arrived at age 18 and studied for three years, or five years for those who went on to advanced studies. Students slept in dormitories of four to six, while the senior student representatives had private rooms of their own, consisting of a small living room with kitchenette and separate bedroom.
By 1965 the college had had the same Principal for over thirty years, an elderly religious man, who insisted that strict rules of behaviour and morality were observed. Prior to 1970 in the UK anyone under 21 years of age was not considered an adult and the college still operated a system of corporal punishment, or caning, for any student misbehaving or breaking rules.
However the Principal was short-sighted in every sense of the word and not aware of what went on in the building. Being quite isolated and with few visitors, the college had become a hotbed of sexual experimentation and pleasure seeking for students enjoying their first time away from their parents. Though isolated, the naïve and innocent students were well aware of the sexual revolution taking place elsewhere in the 'swinging sixties' and many were curious to experience erotic pleasures themselves. Many of the staff were elderly and conservative but there were also youthful staff members. These included a cock-loving Italian house-mistress and her muscular Greek husband, who was classics professor and sports coach, both in their mid-thirties.
John and Susan's story
John and Susan were the senior student representatives for the girls and boys at the college. Their duties were to consult with students and liaise with the Principal over any matters which affected students. John was tall, brown-haired and athletic. Susan was average height for a girl, slim and sporty with long fair hair, often in a pony-tail. In the beginning of the Autumn term of their fifth year the Principal, Professor Craddock, summoned them to his office.
After sitting them down the Principal began, "You may not have heard but the sports-coach, Mr Christos, along with his wife, known at school as Miss Gambatti, have left the college unexpectedly. You will be aware that it was he who had responsibility for administering corporal punishment. In previous years I have carried out this task myself but my strength no longer enables me to exercise a sufficient level of force. I have asked members of staff if anyone would be willing to take on this responsibility and no-one has volunteered. Under such circumstances it falls to the two senior students and I'm hoping that you two, being both conscientious and athletic young people, will be willing to take this on?"
John and Susan looked at each other and considered the request for a moment before accepting.
The Principal continued: "Thank you, I was hoping you would accept. The procedure is simple. Students for punishment will be sent to your individual private rooms. You will previously have received a note from the professor stating the misdemeanour. When the student enters your room you should lock the door to prevent any interruption.
"Firstly you will ask them to tell you what it is they have done wrong, to be clear that they fully understand why they are being punished. They should adopt the position, bending forward with straight legs and their hands on their knees, looking straight ahead. I will provide you with a selection of canes and I have found it useful to have these mounted on the wall. This gives the student something on which to focus their attention and is a reminder of why they are there. They should of course be suitably un-clothed so that the cane encounters bare flesh."
John and Susan looked at each other raising their eyebrows in surprise as Professor Craddock continued.
"I recommend that from the moment the student enters, you should remain aloof. Pace slowly around the room, swishing the cane to emphasise your authority. Once they have adopted the position, take time before commencing to allow the student to ponder the gravity of the situation and the pain they are about to experience. Part of the purpose of corporal punishment is to act as a deterrent against future infringements. I have found the anticipation of pain to be a powerful deterrent."
Professor Craddock paced slowly up and down as he spoke.
"When you are ready to start, take up a position one yard to the side of the bare buttocks, pull your arm right back and administer the first blow as hard as you can across the centre of the buttocks. This will almost certainly result in a sharp intake of breath from the student. Do not carry out the second strike immediately, but wait to increase the anticipation.
"As you continue, some students will remain stoic but you will encounter others who sob uncontrollably or who cry out loudly for you to stop. You should refrain from answering save to tell them that if they do not remain silent a further six strikes will be added.
"After three blows you are to pause and ask the student whether they intend ever again to carry out their particular infringement of the rules. Hopefully they will confirm that they do not. Do not yourselves become distracted by redness or even blood appearing on the buttocks. The punishment must be completed. Pausing, you may then carry out a further two strikes before asking the same question again before the final sixth strike. Only after six strikes may the student stand up, dress and leave."
Finally Professor Craddock left them with one further comment which opened their eyes even further. "I must also warn you," he said, "that some recipients of the cane may accidentally become sexually aroused before or during the procedure. This is entirely due to a rush of blood to the genitals. Certain administers of the cane have in the past also become sexually aroused themselves. Do not under any circumstances act upon such impulses or you yourselves might become subject to caning."
Throughout all of this John and Susan were taking in the enormity of what they had just agreed to do. The Principal's description was vivid. When accepting they hadn't appreciated that they would be inflicting severe pain on fellow students. Nor that they would be seeing naked flesh.
The principal then told them he would make all the necessary arrangements and they would be informed when their services were required. He suggested that the three of them meet up at the end of the first term to review how arrangements were going. And so that is what happened; it was agreed that at intervals John and Susan would receive notification they were to administer Corporal punishment.
Three months later towards the end of the autumn term they were summoned again to the principal's office. However, as they sat outside waiting, they were informed by his secretary that he had been detained elsewhere and it was suggested that the two of them meet alone in their rooms to discuss their experiences. And that is how it happened that John and Susan met in Susan's private rooms on a wintery Saturday afternoon.
As John sat on the small sofa, Susan made two mugs of cocoa on the small stove in the corner and then they sat together. They knew each other fairly well and had almost dated in their second year but had decided instead to be good friends. They met every few months and found that they could talk freely with each other about almost anything.
