Thrashing it out

Those attending the final of the English Speaking Union/Observer Mace mooting competition this year were reportedly struck by the spanking good debate everybody was having.

The subject of the moot was a schoolboy threatened by a headmaster with a public caning for writing a cheeky article in the school magazine.

The schoolboy's appeal was based on the Human Rights Act 1998.

Judges, including Mr Justice Potter and Andrew Walker, senior partner of City firm and co-sponsor Lovells, were said to be surprised that a good hiding was outlawed in Britain's schools these days.

Trying to make amends at the following day's celebratory lunch at the Savoy, Mr Walker confirmed that, yes, he had gone to a school where caning was available, that it would have taken a fortnight to get rid of the resulting bruises, but that he himself had never been whipped: 'Not for want of trying,' he added with an unfortunate double-entendre.