To the general public who happen to stray into the shop when the school bell goes it must seem like the end of the world. I often wonder if the Guinness Book of Records isn't behind it all; how many schoolboys can be crammed into a small space.  Many a time I've jumped over the counter and pushed boys out to keep the numbers down to something reasonable. Most of the time, you'd think boys had not eaten for a week.  Ever since I've been here it has been bread, cheese and a packet of crisps for lunch.

It's lovely to see Old Boys come back to visit and natter about old times, the days when school caps were worn and thrown into the shop like boomerangs!  It's all part of the school's tradition because there's no food like it when you go off to university or college.

I've had postcards from all over the world. Old Boys have sent wedding and christening cake.

You have to be prepared for the unexpected. One boy came in with his blazer sleeve seam ripped from shoulder to cuff. He said he had a fight and his mother would go mad.  Brenda to the rescue! 

I managed to hand stitch and press the lot by 3.30pm.  On the following Saturday he arrived before the football match with a plant all wrapped up. "Thanks Bren. Mom didn't notice."  I've telephoned mothers, lent towels for swimming, money for bus fares, my tennis racket; you name it, someone has asked to borrow it.  When the £50 note was first issued, sure enough one Monday morning a boy came in with one. "Can I have a Mars bar Bren. Mother's got no change.  I'll take my dinner money out and leave the change till home time"

Life in term time sure is hectic. Whenever I go out anywhere I can always be sure that somewhere a voice will shout out "Ello Bren! Got any free or leaky ones?"

Miss Tait and I wish all boys past and present all the very best in life. Schooldays are the happiest times, and wherever you go you will always talk about and remember life at school.