4 MARCH 1989, Page 26

Forward prefect

Sir: As a prefect at Clay Cross Tupton Hall Grammar School I had a part-time job of cleaning the chemistry laboratory, ringing lesson bells and inscribing the names of pupils who arrived late in a blue book. The name D. Skinner appeared in the book so often that Dennis Skinner was expelled from school for tardiness.

I had no animosity against Dennis nor was I interested in why he always came late. However, with a little less zeal on my part he might have stayed on, taken his Higher School Certificate and become a local council official. Instead he is an MP and Chairman of the Labour Party. What a good turn I did for him.

B. E. Hopkinson

Lagoven, Amuay Refinery, Judibana, Estado Falcon, Venezuela, South America