Originally Posted by
B Fraser
Some students were "interesting" to put it mildly. A special loo had to be installed after the "bog standard" bog was found to be too much of a challenge. This elicited the memorable instruction to "sit like a princess and not like a frog". Alas the proverbial hit everything but the pan.
I was present at the "College of Knowledge" when one chap from the former empire was being tasked with entering data into a computer. It was like trying to push string uphill. The instructor helpfully advised that it was just like a typewriter. The inevitable response came......."what's a typewriter ?". No doubt he was sent home with an "Outstanding" rating to avoid awkward questions.
These special facilies for the paying Princes from dusty countries were installed in a renovated block, and were a blessing in disguise. For many years there had been intermittent sewage problems, sort of sorted, but in reality bodged. When the major works were undertaken, the main sewer was found to contain scaffold pipes, lengthways. Remembering that Shinfield had been an RAF HQ, the Principal caused records to be dusted off. It transpired that German PoWs had been used to construct the outbuildings c. 1943.