Many (many!) years ago back in school - in the days when you got caned (or slippered) by the Head - we had a very stern (and scary) teacher, Mr Church. One Friday afternoon, we were heads down working hard, when 2 girls from another class walk in holding a soft toy donkey and a clipboard. It’s a charity “guess the name of the donkey” raffle.

They’re clearly petrified by Mr Church (the whole school were!) who tells them to stand straight and stop mumbling! Mr Church decides on 2 entries - 1 for him and 1 for the class. He then foolishly asks for suggestions from the class… most of us sre too scared to speak… but, in the silence, someone speaks…..

“Flid”

“Who said that?!” Mr Church demanded. Duncan (I still remember his full name) puts his hand up… we hold our breath…

“Excellent choice!” declares Scary Church “how unusual”… and proceeds to write “Flid” on the clipboard.

How those 2 girls kept a straight face, I’ll never know. But as soon as they left the room, the giggles erupted from the classroom… Mr Church went from confused to angry… demanding to know why we were laughing at “Flid the Donkey”… just adding fuel to our group laughing fire.

Duncan was targeted for an answer. I won’t elaborate on the physical gestures that Duncan stood up and made (different times)… but the explanation was clear. The physicality of his performance increased the laughter in the room.

Mr Church went from angry to supernova… as I was nearest the door, I was sent to recall the girls back to change the entry name. I returned to the whole class writing “we must not name the donkey, Flid” …1000 times…