Reading a biography of John Betjeman, I found out that he described his school whackings in poetry later in life:
Betjeman was happy at the Dragon [School], in spite of the fact that… it practised corporal punishment. “Summoned by Bells” recalls one of the masters, Gerard Haynes… thwacking Betjeman with a slipper for talking after lights out in the dormitory,
“I like the way you took that beating, John.
Reckon yourself henceforth a gentleman.”
I wonder why more poets didn’t leave us autobiographical spanking verse…
I can’t believe that it was really called the Dragon School.