Dog Gone

The event that summed up Spyway and its ethos has to be in its final term - that hot summer of ’76. Beverley’s dachshund went missing on a Friday, so on Saturday, as there were no matches, everyone was sent out to scour the countryside for the missing animal. No sign. So on Sunday a similar expedition was planned instead of the Sunday walk. Geoffrey issued instructions that no-one was to go to Swanage- but of course three 9-year-olds did; they went straight to the police station. The loss of a ‘sausage’ was reported (the policeman teasing). Having written down the particulars, the said PC put the boys in a police car and returned them to school. Geoffrey ushered the policeman in for tea and while the PC was being entertained, Geoffrey scolded the boys severely for doing exactly doing what he told them NOT to do and sent them to bed (3.30pm). Having seen the PC off about 4.30, Geoffrey entered the dormitory and summoned the boys, their bottoms tingling in anticipation ! Into his house they went to be confronted by a special tea. Geoffrey and Bev had failed to go to the police themselves; so the boys having been punished for flagrantly disobeying orders were then rewarded for showing initiative! For that I will always personally thank Spyway and that incident has always stuck in my mind so clearly ever since. You can’t beat initiative!