Eric A. Wildman

Eric A. Wildman
Wildman showing off his canes, 1948
Born(1921-05-20)20 May 1921
Walthamstow, England
DiedMay 1990 (aged 68–69)

Eric Arthur Wildman (20 May 1921 – May 1990)[1] was an English advocate for corporal punishment in schools. He was the founder of the National Society for the Retention of Corporal Punishment.[2] His business, Corpun Educational Organisation, produced birches and canes and distributed pro-corporal punishment literature.[3]

Military service

Wildman served in the Merchant Navy.

Career

The founder of the National Society for the Retention of Corporal Punishment, Wildman edited its Bulletin, as well as a publication called The Retentionist.[2][3] He also published many pamphlets on corporal punishment.[3][2] His main business was the production of "instruments of correction" such as birches, canes, and straps.[2] In the pamphlet Juvenile Justice, he claimed that Corpun Educational Organisation had 10,000 "satisfied customers" including teachers, educational authorities, and parents.[2]

Wildman initially operated out of Oxford Circus in London, but was forced to move to Kensington following objections by his landlord and neighbours.[3] He hired men to wear sandwich boards in Kensington advertising his business.[2] In addition, he gave public lectures at Caxton Hall.[2]

On November 24, 1948, Wildman was invited to lecture at a progressive private school, Horsley Hall, near Eccleshall, Staffordshire.[4] The school advocated for "self expression" and its headmaster, Robert Copping, was anti-corporal punishment.[5][6] Following his speech, Wildman was caned by the students, an event captured by photographers and covered in newspapers nationally and internationally.[5][4] Wildman reported the incident to police and threatened legal action.[4]

In January 1953, his City Road office was raided by police, who seized weapons and printed material which filled four large vans.[3][7] One of the pamphlets seized was called A Girl's Beating: Punishment Postures.[2] Wildman was charged with publishing obscene libel.[3][2] In his defence, his lawyers argued that he had suffered physical and psychological trauma that led him to fanaticism about corporal punishment, and that he was a religious man who taught Sunday school and genuinely believed he was pursuing God's work.[3] He was found guilty and ordered to pay £500 within six months or go to jail.[2] His young adopted daughter was removed from his care and his application to adopt another child was canceled.[3]

He ceased operations in the 1960s and became a private tutor. The Private Case of the British Library kept five parcels of pamphlets issued by Wildman and Corpun,[8] as well as two booklets on flagellation which were withdrawn "on legal advice" prior to publication.[9]

References

  1. ^ "Eric Arthur Wildman, England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007". Vol. 15. General Register Office; United Kingdom. p. 549.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Bigson, Ian (1978). The English Vice: Beating, Sex and Shame in Victorian England and After. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co. pp. 60–61. ISBN 0715613901.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h d'Olbert, Gervas (1956). "Eric Wildman, 1950s crusader for corporal punishment". Chastisement Across the Ages. London: Fortune Press. Archived from the original on December 11, 2025 – via corpun.com.
  4. ^ a b c "Lecturer Speaks for Corporal Punishment; Pupils Give Him Some Wish His Own Cane". The New York Times. Reuters. November 25, 1948. Retrieved 2026-02-23 – via ProQuest.
  5. ^ a b "'Free expression' school scene". Evening Sentinel. 25 November 1948. Retrieved 2026-02-23 – via World Corporal Punishment Research.
  6. ^ "I had planned it all, says the head". Daily Mirror. 26 November 1948. Retrieved 2026-02-23 – via World Corporal Punishment Research.
  7. ^ "Police seize canes in swoop on offices". Daily Mirror. 10 January 1953. Archived from the original on 2003-06-10.
  8. ^ Fryer 1966, pp. 120–121.
  9. ^ Fryer 1966, p. 147.

Bibliography

Further reading

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