A RICH vein of Poole's history, stretching back to 1667, has run up against what its supporters have dubbed modern political correctness.

The ceremonial "whipping" of a youngster with a leather lace and pricking of a girl's hand with a wooden bodkin is an integral part of the historic Beating of the Bounds ceremonies.

Aimed at impressing on the children the boundaries of the borough, the ritual was instigated by a mayor of Poole and has been performed by the incumbent ever since.

But now the role of the mayor is being questioned amid fears it could be "misinterpreted" - while the event's organisers are determined it should continue.

"It's political correctness gone completely up the wall," said former Poole headmaster Ray Knight of the Society of Poole Men, who recruits youngsters for the "pins and points" ceremony.

"It's all done in the open, the parents are there and they have given their permission for their children to come. The mayor made quite sure his hand was what was getting hit, rather than the child's bottom.

"They say it could be misinterpreted and it could bring discredit to the mayor. It hasn't brought discredit since the 1600s," he said.

Brian Galpin, who has been taking part in the ceremonies ever since he was a boy of 12 in 1949, described the backlash as "politically correct nonsense".

"As far as the Society of Poole Men is concerned, tradition is and tradition has always been. Political correctness should have no place in tradition," he said.

"We don't want to bring the mayoralty into disrepute," he added "If the chief executive advises the mayor not to take part in the ceremony we will get someone else to do the whipping and pricking."

Borough of Poole chief executive John McBride denied it was a matter of political correctness or that the ancient ceremony was under threat.

"It was drawn to my attention. Did I think this part of the ceremony was appropriate in this day and age when there was a lot of attention, quite rightly, to cases of protecting children?" he said.

"Clearly nobody is getting hurt or injured. That part of the ceremony was thought of as being some form of punishment. Is that something we want to be associated with?"

He added: "It's a very small element of a very big and long-standing tradition." Mr McBride said he would be taking soundings and discussing the matter with the mayor.

First published: Sept 20