Bashing myths

Published on 14/08/2012 00:00

Could Richard Holloway, at Wednesday’s session of the Edinburgh Book Festival, throw light on an intriguing problem?

Briefly, he recalls leaving the monastery to do national service before his 18th birthday in 1951.

Joining the army, he was found “not to be officer material” but was remarkably good at “square-bashing”. So good in fact that he became a drill instructor and finished up as a drill sergeant. I find this intriguing, having myself experienced Kelham monastery as a student and also national service.

Richard Holloway, before the age of 19, became a sergeant with the pace stick. How, for instance, did he cope with the “culture shock” of unforgettable “parade-ground language”?

Socially and psychologically drill instructors knew, like Machiavelli, that “it is better to be feared than loved”.

Ellis Thorpe

Old Chapel Walk

Inverurie, Aberdeenshire