did Ken Clarke ever get the cane?
I can’t throw any light on that. He wasn’t in my year, he’s a bit older than me. It certainly wasn’t one of Britain’s major caning schools. I don’t think the then Headmaster, Mr K R Imeson, a truly great man, really approved of the cane in his heart of hearts, although he used it. Other masters wielded a variety of implements, slippers being the favorite, although one maverick specialized in brass hooked long window poles hurled spear-wise! At the time I was there the Prefects also caned, although not long after I left the new sentiments of the 60s caused them to vote to abolish this. Mr Imeson then followed suit with his own use of the cane.