Back in the 1970s I was living and working in Jersey. I returned to the UK for the weekend when my parents were celebrating their 40th Wedding Anniversary. As a present I had bought them a decorative wall barometer,which to make carriage easier I had strapped to my briefcase. Upon landing in Southampton I made my way to the red channel and told them my story, anticipating some duty would be payable. "Well", said the man in the uniform, "let's call it a scientific instrument. No duty payable".