When discussing the notorious former headmistress at Northwich County Grammar School, it’s important to consider her reputation in the broader context of her era. While corporal punishment (often abbreviated as CP) was a common disciplinary tool in British schools during the mid-20th century, not all headteachers wielded it with the same frequency or severity. In fact, compared to some of her contemporaries, this particular headmistress was not known for excessive use of the cane.
Within the Northwich and Cheshire Nostalgia Facebook groups, which serve as a rich archive of local memories and school experiences, her name comes up quite often. Yet, despite her frequent mention, I was only able to uncover two direct, first-hand accounts of her actually administering corporal punishment. This suggests that, while she may have been a formidable presence, her use of the cane was relatively rare.
Anne, one of the former students, shares her vivid memory:
‘She wielded her cane with a passion. I know, I felt it’.
Meanwhile, Debbie recalls her own experience:
‘I had the cane off Miss Dines and it flippin hurt!!!’
These personal recollections are further supported by the words of Lynne Simmonds, who herself was a notable figure at the school. According to a 1976 article in the Northwich Guardian, Simmonds reported that Miss Dines had told her:
‘she had hardly had to cane anybody in all the 10 years she had been there as head’
This pattern appears to have held true even at her previous post in Romford. There are plenty of references to her name in various school memories, but again, very few actual stories of her using the cane. When she did resort to corporal punishment, it was typically administered across the hands and bottoms of girls, and across the bottoms of boys—a practice that reflected the gendered norms of discipline at the time.
As a brief aside, it’s interesting to note a claim from a member of the Cheshire Memories group: after leaving Northwich County Grammar around 1977, Janet Dines reportedly went on to teach at Holmes Chapel Comprehensive. Unfortunately, I have no further information about her career or life after that point, nor do I know what became of Lynne Simmonds.
Turning to the alleged caning of Sheena, I revisited the group discussions and uncovered some new details. A gentleman named Tommy offered this recollection about Mr Haslam (sometimes spelled Haslan):
‘Wow that’s ‘Penguin’ he used to walk like one. And use to hit you with his cane or slipper!’
This prompted a response from Lisa, who added more nuance to the story:
‘Yes Tommy but it was only the boys Mr Haslam would threaten with his cane or slipper. I remember the girls in my math lesson petitioning for the same treatment! The girls would get detention instead and a few of them would much rather get the slipper and be over and done with it rather than stay behind in detention (not me though), they thought it was highly unfair! Did any of the boys actually receive Mr Haslams slipper/cane….?’
I also found a couple more relevant quotes from Sheena herself, which shed further light on the atmosphere and disciplinary practices at the school:
‘Mr haslan wasn’t scary lol, we called him penguin, but he did love his cane collection. Lady left to him, headmistress who also kept a slipper collection, I know lol. Got punished often enough x x’
‘He stopped caning year I left. Some boys broke into his cane cupboard n snapped a few. Mr haslam was the main punisher, u were sent to him. I didn’t have him as a teacher. N when I went there was a queue, awful hearing others before u x x’
These accounts suggest that Sheena may have chosen corporal punishment over detention, and that Mr Haslam (or Haslan) might have administered the same punishment to her as he did to the boys, perhaps in an effort to maintain fairness and avoid accusations of favoritism or prejudice. However, I remain skeptical about the actual number of cane strokes she received, as memories can sometimes exaggerate or blur over time.
Regarding the story of a post-caning visit to the doctor, it’s worth noting that even if the skin wasn’t broken, a doctor might still prescribe topical lotions to soothe the welts. The intense stinging sensation could have been caused by the application of the lotion directly onto the bruised skin, rather than by the lotion itself. I can relate to this from personal experience—not from the cane, but from having a rugby ball kicked full force against my bare thigh on a freezing day. The pain and sting can be quite memorable!
Hello Sorepants,
In reference to the alleged Window Pole punishment, here is the exact quotation from Lesley:
‘Remember Mr Howell making me and 3 friends bend over the desk for the window pole. Imagine that today’
I completely agree with your observations about the practicality of such a punishment. The idea of using a window pole as a disciplinary tool seems almost absurd by today’s standards, and even then, it may have been more symbolic or humorous than genuinely punitive. It’s possible that Mr Howell used a lighter, less dangerous version of the window pole, rather than the heavy brass, hook-ended staffs that were common in older schools.
My imagination can’t help but picture the scene Lesley describes: four students lined up, bending over the desk, with the window pole raised for dramatic effect. In reality, the length and unwieldiness of the pole would have made it impractical for actual punishment, but it certainly would have created a memorable spectacle. I suspect that, in this case, the punishment was intended to be more light-hearted or jocular than truly severe—a reflection of the sometimes theatrical nature of school discipline in those days.
