The Oldie

RIP practical jokes

‘Who put salt in the sugar bowl? ‘Who put fireworks in the coal?’

These were the opening lines of Terry Scott's naughty-schoolboy song, My Brother, back in 1962.

The song was indicative of an era when pranks and practical jokes were more or less expected from youngsters.

At Rishi Sunak's school, Winchester College, many years ago, a group of boys learnt that a teacher was standing as a Labour councillor at the local elections. The teacher was the proud owner of a bright red Mini Cooper.

You’re reading a preview, subscribe to read more.

More from The Oldie

The Oldie3 min read
Walk Tall In High Heels
The late, great Sir Terry Wogan regularly broadcast to eight million listeners on his Radio 2 show, Wake Up to Wogan. One morning, Wogan drew listeners’ attention to a beauty advert splashed over London billboards. It boasted that the product in ques
The Oldie3 min read
Apocalypse Now?
Are we all doomed? A lot of publishers seem to think so. The only question, it sometimes seems, is whether it's going to be climate change, another pandemic, or murderous Terminator-style Artificial Intelligence that finishes us off first. But a hand
The Oldie2 min read
Lord Brooke CH (1934-2023)
Sir John Major paid tribute at St Margaret's, Westminster, to Peter Brooke. As Northern Ireland Secretary, he did much to start the talks with the IRA that led to the Good Friday Agreement. As Culture Secretary, he introduced legislation to launch th

Related Books & Audiobooks