He was a boarder at a school called St. Peter's, and one day he was taken to the headmaster's office for a medical examination. The doctor, a man named Dr. Leach, examined Roald's ears with a device that caused him immense pain.
The experience was terrifying and left Roald deeply shaken. He describes the event in detail, emphasizing the excruciating pain and the fear that filled him.
This incident is often cited as a possible influence on Dahl's later writing, particularly his portrayal of fear and cruelty in children's books.