As a fifth year in 1981, it was our duty to clean up after lunch and set up for tea.  We all had our duties and I was assigned to clean the tureens with Sister Maria.  We got along fine every day with the work except for Thursday which always took much longer because it was 'Bread Pudding' day and the pudding always ended up congealed on the side.  A lot of steeping and soaking was needed - as a result I missed my lunch break (sob, sob!) and was always late for the start of Double English with Johnny Mcintyre.  Being a typical fifth year with no manners, I refused to pardon myself as I entered the class late.  Nothing was said but four or five weeks of this lateness went past before Johnny said: 'Hey, that's the fifth week in a row you've been late!  Come on, pull your socks up!' Well, normally I am quite calm but something inside triggered me off on a tirade ... 'I was on clean up after dinner.  If it wasn't for me cleaning up those Bread Pudding dishes, Sister Maria would still be there at tea-time and after.  You don't know what it's like, you sit up there at your top table with your fancy meals and your posh covers.  You never lift a finger to help. Never!  I bet you'd break into a sweat if you ever had to come and clean up.  So don't get on to me for being late!'. To my amazement I ended up getting a cheer from my equally-rude fellow fifth years!  Johnny, being the kind and gentle man that we have come to appreciate since then, just got a little embarrassed, told me to sit down, and got on with the class. He's been supportive of me ever since! With thanks to Martin Chambers

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A 1981 Anecdote