Corpun file 24948 at www.corpun.com

Daily Mail, London (early editions only), 10 March 1958

By Daily Mail Reporter

Click to enlarge

PETER DURYEA, 18-year-old son of Hollywood “villain” Dan Duryea, walked nervously into the headmaster’s study at Oakham School, Rutland.

“Bend over, boy,” said the head, Mr. John Buchanan, selecting a cane.

Peter bent, hands on shins. Whereupon Mr. Buchanan planted six of the best on the spot Peter’s trousers were tightest.

Yesterday the boy’s housemaster, Mr. K. R. Bowes, told me: “He took it well; although I understand that Mr. Buchanan — like most headmasters — has a strong right arm and a wristy follow-through.”

Sixth-former Peter — he is at the public school (fees £233 a year) on a scholarship from America — got his caning for slipping out of the dormitory with four other boys and going to a dance at Oakham. He returned at 1.30 a.m.

‘Good fellow’

“But it is all forgiven and forgotten now,” said Mr. Buchanan. “He has behaved in an exemplary manner over the entire unfortunate affair.”

He chuckled and added: “I suppose I shouldn’t be quoted as saying this but he’s an extremely good fellow.”

Said Mr. Bowes: “It was nothing more than a prank. He’s a first-class chap — owned up at once.”

Peter has been at Oakham since September. He will stay there till the end of the summer.