General Chat

To this day, the only books I have read were those on the school curriculum. So limit of my knowledge is Macbeth, King Henry VIII, Clayhanger, Milton, Wuthering Heights, Conrad, and bits of DH Lawrence. Still get more literature questions right than Chris on Eggheads :-D

Loved Latin and Combined Cadet Force :-D :-D

Oh yay I forgot all about the gunnery, the thrill of an ancient .303 Enfield and the joys of marching in the rain with a heavy pack and hob nailed boots. I really hated it.

Imagine handing out live rounds to schoolkids today !!! Not that they would be impressed, apparently the community police in Luton need a Heckler & Koch to stop the hoodies waving St George flags around and bumping off people who haven't paid for their skunk.

By some lucky chance I was spared English Lit. thanks to the vagaries of GCE. Subjects were divvied up into "Arts" or "Science". I chose science and thus still enjoy a good read. I also understand that arithmetic and math are not synonyms.

The massive advantage of science exams (and Latin) is that you have an answer, right or wrong. Arts subjects are a matter of fashion and opinion. I doubt if ee cummings would have passed English Lit. lol.

Could they have passed a traditional GCE a la Michael Gove ?

English Lit - Joe Orton
Art - Beryl Cook
Music - Chris Rea
Cookery - David Myers and Simon King (Hairy Bikers)
Geography - George Bush
Woodwork - Ingvar Kamprad
D.S. - Margaret Thatcher, Frau Merkel joint nomination
Metalwork - Ozzie Osbourne
French - William Hague
Bookkeeping - George Osbourne
History - Andrew Marr

"When I think back
On all the crap I learned in high school
It's a wonder I can think at all
And though my lack of education
Hasn't hurt me none
I can read the writing on the wall "
(Paul Simon)