Charles Spencer - Anyone else suffer "abuse"?
Discussion
News today and yesterday. Horrific abuse by nanny, and school staff.
Well, sadly, it was normal back then. I'm sure many of us older ones can relate similar events to those recalled by Earl Spencer.
Not a lot we can do about it now. Fortunately the world has changed, and it's now illegal (in the UK) to hit children. But it wasn't illegal when I was at school, and it happened a lot. If you fought back, or complained, the abuse often intensified.
I was hit on the head by a random Scottish guy, just for laughing as I walked home. I realise now I should have punched him back.
Do I want to "open up" about it to anyone? Hell, no. Except anonymously on PH.
Apologies if there's already a thread on this, I couldn't find it.
Well, sadly, it was normal back then. I'm sure many of us older ones can relate similar events to those recalled by Earl Spencer.
Not a lot we can do about it now. Fortunately the world has changed, and it's now illegal (in the UK) to hit children. But it wasn't illegal when I was at school, and it happened a lot. If you fought back, or complained, the abuse often intensified.
I was hit on the head by a random Scottish guy, just for laughing as I walked home. I realise now I should have punched him back.
Do I want to "open up" about it to anyone? Hell, no. Except anonymously on PH.
Apologies if there's already a thread on this, I couldn't find it.
I went to school through the late 60s and most of the 70s.
Some of the teachers were certifiable maniacs, one in particular caught me with a roundhouse/haymaker which knocked me to the ground, I was about 12 or 13.
That was common place behaviour in my very middle class comprehensive school, I mean f
k my violin teacher used to smash me over the knuckles with a bow. I told her I would break the violin over her head if she did it again, got thrown out of her lessons. fking hated it anyway so didn't care.
Anyone who kicked back tended to be left alone, some of the meek kids were tormented mercilessly.
fk I hated school.
Haymaker man ended up with a large bill for his Triumph 2.5pi as after leaving a few of us vandalised it - a lot.
Some of the teachers were certifiable maniacs, one in particular caught me with a roundhouse/haymaker which knocked me to the ground, I was about 12 or 13.
That was common place behaviour in my very middle class comprehensive school, I mean f
k my violin teacher used to smash me over the knuckles with a bow. I told her I would break the violin over her head if she did it again, got thrown out of her lessons. fking hated it anyway so didn't care.Anyone who kicked back tended to be left alone, some of the meek kids were tormented mercilessly.
f
k I hated school.Haymaker man ended up with a large bill for his Triumph 2.5pi as after leaving a few of us vandalised it - a lot.
IF…….A few on here will have seen this utterly iconic film….
We had an absolute Horror of a white haired elderly maths teacher called Miss Adelaide Windsor @ my first “ Private “ school, in Chingford. I could just not grasp maths and she made my life hell, singling myself & another boy out in particular, for her anger, we were all frightened of her, i recall her putting a ruler across the backs of my legs ( the boys wore shorts ) one day, it was her who gave me a mental block on maths that I never got over.
I recently learnt from a fellow class mate who went to Windsors house @ Chingford Mount for music lessons, that @ break time, a meek & mild woman would come in with the orange juice & biscuits and then quickly be ushered out again. Windsor was a Dyke ( a man hating dyke ) and the servant was her live in “ partner “.
One day in the mid 70s, a few of us were on top of the multi storey car park, at Chingford Mount, when Windsor walked by on the pavement below, one of the group had p in a Coke can & I was sorely tempted to pour it over her frogging head, wish I had have done……
Several times I received the slipper by either of the Leylands ( the schools owners ) for some minor mis demeanour, once with excessive force & violence, by the male Headmaster owner, it turns out that he was a Pedo.
Then at my f up senior Private school, in Loughton, my first games teacher was a violent dark haired nutter, called Mr. McDonald or “ Maccy “ as he was nicknamed, woe betide you if you happened to be poor at sport as one would receive either a heavy slap around the face or head or he would hit out @ us with a hockey stick.
I recall him in particular singling out a poor retarded boy called Clive Ward for much of his anger.
Maccy had wild eyes and had some kind of “ twitch “ and in the midst of talking would throw his head to one side, again & again.
I recall one day we were almost back @ the school from Cross Country ( which I was hopeless at ) when suddenly a near new beautiful Mach 1 Mustang “Wedge” pulled up at the kerb side in front of us. It was being driven by a stunningly beautiful chick. She obviously knew McDonald and he leant into the drivers side window and was smiling & chatting to her as we shuffled past. No idea who she was though, but I’ve often wondered.
However, a few months later, one morning just before assembly, one of my good pals David McKenzie Brown, who always had some gossip to tell us,, said to me “ Macy’s dead “ Then in assembly the Headmaster told us that Mr. McDonald would not be coming back as he was dead…..
Not long after, a tiny article appeared in the Loughton Gazette newspaper saying how he had killer himself.
One evening he had driven into the entrance of the field that the school used for sports day and blew his brains out with a shotgun. I was later told that he had been in a car crash, his wife & kids had all been killed, but he had survived injured & that he blamed himself.
It’s very strange thinking about it now, but back then, violence & aggression towards us school kids was just excepted as just being part of daily school life.
To be continued - Macy’s replacement was shall we say “ A fascinating mystery “ …..
We had an absolute Horror of a white haired elderly maths teacher called Miss Adelaide Windsor @ my first “ Private “ school, in Chingford. I could just not grasp maths and she made my life hell, singling myself & another boy out in particular, for her anger, we were all frightened of her, i recall her putting a ruler across the backs of my legs ( the boys wore shorts ) one day, it was her who gave me a mental block on maths that I never got over.
I recently learnt from a fellow class mate who went to Windsors house @ Chingford Mount for music lessons, that @ break time, a meek & mild woman would come in with the orange juice & biscuits and then quickly be ushered out again. Windsor was a Dyke ( a man hating dyke ) and the servant was her live in “ partner “.
One day in the mid 70s, a few of us were on top of the multi storey car park, at Chingford Mount, when Windsor walked by on the pavement below, one of the group had p in a Coke can & I was sorely tempted to pour it over her frogging head, wish I had have done……
Several times I received the slipper by either of the Leylands ( the schools owners ) for some minor mis demeanour, once with excessive force & violence, by the male Headmaster owner, it turns out that he was a Pedo.
Then at my f up senior Private school, in Loughton, my first games teacher was a violent dark haired nutter, called Mr. McDonald or “ Maccy “ as he was nicknamed, woe betide you if you happened to be poor at sport as one would receive either a heavy slap around the face or head or he would hit out @ us with a hockey stick.
I recall him in particular singling out a poor retarded boy called Clive Ward for much of his anger.
Maccy had wild eyes and had some kind of “ twitch “ and in the midst of talking would throw his head to one side, again & again.
I recall one day we were almost back @ the school from Cross Country ( which I was hopeless at ) when suddenly a near new beautiful Mach 1 Mustang “Wedge” pulled up at the kerb side in front of us. It was being driven by a stunningly beautiful chick. She obviously knew McDonald and he leant into the drivers side window and was smiling & chatting to her as we shuffled past. No idea who she was though, but I’ve often wondered.
However, a few months later, one morning just before assembly, one of my good pals David McKenzie Brown, who always had some gossip to tell us,, said to me “ Macy’s dead “ Then in assembly the Headmaster told us that Mr. McDonald would not be coming back as he was dead…..
Not long after, a tiny article appeared in the Loughton Gazette newspaper saying how he had killer himself.
One evening he had driven into the entrance of the field that the school used for sports day and blew his brains out with a shotgun. I was later told that he had been in a car crash, his wife & kids had all been killed, but he had survived injured & that he blamed himself.
It’s very strange thinking about it now, but back then, violence & aggression towards us school kids was just excepted as just being part of daily school life.
To be continued - Macy’s replacement was shall we say “ A fascinating mystery “ …..
Edited by SS427 Camaro on Monday 18th March 08:17
Edited by SS427 Camaro on Monday 18th March 08:25
Edited by SS427 Camaro on Monday 18th March 08:26
Edited by SS427 Camaro on Monday 18th March 08:27
Edited by SS427 Camaro on Tuesday 19th March 22:09
SS427 Camaro said:
IF…….A few on here will have seen this utterly iconic film….
Our school (boarding) actually showed the film as part of its film club...Don't know if we were lucky or it was simply the case of a much better Head getting a grip of the place, but I didn't suffer any abuse, even with mild fagging duties still present.
Have very happy memories, although after my mother died I read her diaries and realised that I put her through misery for a couple of years to start with through tearful phone calls. Strange how memory works. I was 300 miles away from home, and was put on the train to go to school and then picked up a few months later. I probably wouldn't do that to my kids, but I understand why my parents did.
I learnt independence and with the aid of a car smuggled into school for the last month, left and didn't go home for a month. I then avoided University and left home a month later and went straight to work at the age of 18. Pretty sure that would have been much harder without the boarding experience.
Leithen said:
Our school (boarding) actually showed the film as part of its film club...
Don't know if we were lucky or it was simply the case of a much better Head getting a grip of the place, but I didn't suffer any abuse, even with mild fagging duties still present.
Have very happy memories, although after my mother died I read her diaries and realised that I put her through misery for a couple of years to start with through tearful phone calls. Strange how memory works. I was 300 miles away from home, and was put on the train to go to school and then picked up a few months later. I probably wouldn't do that to my kids, but I understand why my parents did.
I learnt independence and with the aid of a car smuggled into school for the last month, left and didn't go home for a month. I then avoided University and left home a month later and went straight to work at the age of 18. Pretty sure that would have been much harder without the boarding experience.
That’s really interesting ! Totally agree re “ learning to be Independent “ though. However I ( even if I had had the £ ) would not have put my 2 sons through boarding school. Don't know if we were lucky or it was simply the case of a much better Head getting a grip of the place, but I didn't suffer any abuse, even with mild fagging duties still present.
Have very happy memories, although after my mother died I read her diaries and realised that I put her through misery for a couple of years to start with through tearful phone calls. Strange how memory works. I was 300 miles away from home, and was put on the train to go to school and then picked up a few months later. I probably wouldn't do that to my kids, but I understand why my parents did.
I learnt independence and with the aid of a car smuggled into school for the last month, left and didn't go home for a month. I then avoided University and left home a month later and went straight to work at the age of 18. Pretty sure that would have been much harder without the boarding experience.
Edited by SS427 Camaro on Monday 18th March 08:40
Most of the people that I know who went to boarding schools (aside from day boarders) have some deep psychological issues.
One (who boarded all term from 7) described himself as an "onion" in that he has so many layers of personal defence that he isn't quite sure what the real him is.
One (who boarded all term from 7) described himself as an "onion" in that he has so many layers of personal defence that he isn't quite sure what the real him is.
Boarding schools were horrendous - they're very different today.
My son loved his time boarding (he's 22 now) and says they were the happiest days. Friends who went to the same school in the 60's said it was awful - which I can well believe.
I was regularly beaten at my school, I rarely think about it. The bullying was more of an issue - not for me, but for many others.
My son loved his time boarding (he's 22 now) and says they were the happiest days. Friends who went to the same school in the 60's said it was awful - which I can well believe.
I was regularly beaten at my school, I rarely think about it. The bullying was more of an issue - not for me, but for many others.
For those like me that had the "privilege" of a boarding school education in the 60s and 70s, all of this was not just the norm but mandatory. the book Stiff upper lip covers it in depth.
I had always promised myself if I ever met my prep school headmaster I would break his nose, as I got older I spotted the hypocrisy but did intend to ask him if he realised that he would go to prison if he behaved like that now.
I had always promised myself if I ever met my prep school headmaster I would break his nose, as I got older I spotted the hypocrisy but did intend to ask him if he realised that he would go to prison if he behaved like that now.
I reckon, if you go back beyond 1990, all schools were operated in a way that would stagger those of the current generation.
I went to a very rough comprehensive, in Tooting, in the early to late 80’s. The level of violence was insane. And consistent. I look back at it now with mild terror.
I went to a very rough comprehensive, in Tooting, in the early to late 80’s. The level of violence was insane. And consistent. I look back at it now with mild terror.
Our second games teacher was an ex Army / ex Plod guy by the name of Munt. He drove a blue Mini van complete with a crazy Alsatian in the back ! I well recall walking out of morning assembly in Big School one morning, on his first day @ school, seeing him standing by the exit door, him focusing his steel cold eyes @ me and him barking to me agressivly “ Do Your Tie UP boy !! “
I knew then that yet another nutter had stepped into our lives.
He used to park his Mini van in the school grounds outside one of the old buildings classrooms and one boy tapping on the side of the van. The Alsatian went into a frenzy, launching itself @ the sides of the van. We legged it before Munt came out !
One day, he suddenly ordered a group of about 10 of us, to take our shoes & socks off for “ inspection of the feet “
He then proceeded to look closely @ our feet & toes, singling out my pal Ian & 2 other boys. He then ordered all 3 up to his office, where he beat them with a slipper. In my minds ear I can Still hear the boys cries and the whump of that slipper.
He was lodging @ the Jacobean mansion of one of my class mates Simon and I well recall Simon saying “ Mum washes Munts Jock Strap “ lol
In his class one day, whilst examining the Silva compass’s that we had been ordered to buy, he anounced that “ we were going to be dropped into Epping Forest by Helicopter as part of “ orienteering classes “ I can still see the look of utter horror on most of my class mates faces, me however couldn’t wait ! Sadly it never happened.
He had told us to “ attach lanyards “ to our compass’s and I had used a lanyard from a .455 Webley pistol. On seeing it, his face lit up and he said “ Where did you get that from boy “ ?? I explained that my Gun dealer Dad had given it me. He immediately asked if I could “get him some ammo for his .38 pistol ? “ His attitude toward me changed immediately after that. However, there were So many complaints about him by the parents, particularly over the “ dirty feet “ episode, that he was sacked after only 4 or 5 months.
I’ve often wondered what became of him……
I knew then that yet another nutter had stepped into our lives.
He used to park his Mini van in the school grounds outside one of the old buildings classrooms and one boy tapping on the side of the van. The Alsatian went into a frenzy, launching itself @ the sides of the van. We legged it before Munt came out !
One day, he suddenly ordered a group of about 10 of us, to take our shoes & socks off for “ inspection of the feet “
He then proceeded to look closely @ our feet & toes, singling out my pal Ian & 2 other boys. He then ordered all 3 up to his office, where he beat them with a slipper. In my minds ear I can Still hear the boys cries and the whump of that slipper.
He was lodging @ the Jacobean mansion of one of my class mates Simon and I well recall Simon saying “ Mum washes Munts Jock Strap “ lol
In his class one day, whilst examining the Silva compass’s that we had been ordered to buy, he anounced that “ we were going to be dropped into Epping Forest by Helicopter as part of “ orienteering classes “ I can still see the look of utter horror on most of my class mates faces, me however couldn’t wait ! Sadly it never happened.
He had told us to “ attach lanyards “ to our compass’s and I had used a lanyard from a .455 Webley pistol. On seeing it, his face lit up and he said “ Where did you get that from boy “ ?? I explained that my Gun dealer Dad had given it me. He immediately asked if I could “get him some ammo for his .38 pistol ? “ His attitude toward me changed immediately after that. However, there were So many complaints about him by the parents, particularly over the “ dirty feet “ episode, that he was sacked after only 4 or 5 months.
I’ve often wondered what became of him……
Edited by SS427 Camaro on Monday 18th March 09:13
Mr. Munts replacement was an unpleasant blunt northerner character called Blackburn, whom my best pal David immediately gave the nickname name “ Chippy “ lol, on account of his accent.
He taught English as well as Sport. Very soon the beatings by slipper began.
One day @ lunch, my dear now sadly Late best pal David McKenzie Brown dared say something a bit cheeky to Chippie. His face contorted with anger and he imeadiately ordered us both to the “ Boot Room “ ( the grim and dark games changing room & shower room.
David went in first and received a savage beating via a very large slipper that Chippie regularly used. It seemed to go on for ages. Then the door opened and David half stumbled out, in imense pain…..
Next it was my turn, my beating was also bad, but not as bad as David’s. Thinking about it now, we should both have said “ F You, you’re not touching us “ , god knows why we didn’t, but we were scared.
Chippie took imense pleasure standing in the shower openly soaping himself, in front of us, whilst showing off his body & his knob,
Chippie only lasted about a year and then his replacement arrived, a really nasty piece of work whom I will call “ K “ ….
He taught English as well as Sport. Very soon the beatings by slipper began.
One day @ lunch, my dear now sadly Late best pal David McKenzie Brown dared say something a bit cheeky to Chippie. His face contorted with anger and he imeadiately ordered us both to the “ Boot Room “ ( the grim and dark games changing room & shower room.
David went in first and received a savage beating via a very large slipper that Chippie regularly used. It seemed to go on for ages. Then the door opened and David half stumbled out, in imense pain…..
Next it was my turn, my beating was also bad, but not as bad as David’s. Thinking about it now, we should both have said “ F You, you’re not touching us “ , god knows why we didn’t, but we were scared.
Chippie took imense pleasure standing in the shower openly soaping himself, in front of us, whilst showing off his body & his knob,
Chippie only lasted about a year and then his replacement arrived, a really nasty piece of work whom I will call “ K “ ….
Edited by SS427 Camaro on Monday 18th March 10:03
PE teachers were all aholes when I was at school. The male ones were bullies and the female ones all seemed to be man-haters who appeared to have pursued that career path purely so they could take their angst out on boys. And, of course, contact sports provided the perfect opportunity for the nasty kids to give everyone else a good kicking. PE lessons are the most significant reason that I Iove the fact that I'm no longer at school - they were an acutely miserable experience. I wasn't a lazy kid who hated exercise either - I spent most of my weekends up mountains and a lot of my weekday evenings running with a local athletics club which has consistently produced Olympic athletes over many decades.
holes when I was at school. The male ones were bullies and the female ones all seemed to be man-haters who appeared to have pursued that career path purely so they could take their angst out on boys. And, of course, contact sports provided the perfect opportunity for the nasty kids to give everyone else a good kicking. PE lessons are the most significant reason that I Iove the fact that I'm no longer at school - they were an acutely miserable experience. I wasn't a lazy kid who hated exercise either - I spent most of my weekends up mountains and a lot of my weekday evenings running with a local athletics club which has consistently produced Olympic athletes over many decades.Edited by MitchT on Monday 18th March 11:26
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