Reverend Doctor Francis Brown, Headmaster: “Students felt he was almost as omnipotent as God, and nearly as distant except on Monday mornings, when a large contingent of backsliders knew his wrath at close quarters through the cane.”

Mr E.T. Williams, Housemaster: “Ian Nicholson remembered ‘Billy Lop’ Williams quoting his favourite poem, ‘Drake’s Drum’, in one of the dormitories. When he came to ‘Captain, are thou sleeping there below?’, a voice from under a bed responded, ‘Aye, Aye, sir!’ The offender soon felt six of the best, but then, as always happened when he caned one of his favourites, Billy made it up to him with coffee and Banbury tarts.”