…It was the traditional Christmas lunch at school with turkey, potatoes,
stuffing, carrots, sausages and gravy with, what else,
Christmas pudding to finish.
In the afternoon and evening we had the Christmas carol concert.
I read my lines all right.
The choir remembered their lines and
I played the piano without any mistakes…

Leicestershire Education Authority did us proud on this day.

The food was carried into school in the usual giant metal vats and cases. We had no forewarning of the seasonal delights therein. To have five different foodstuffs for the main course was exceptional. In fact it was unique.

And it all tasted wonderful.

Better, actually, than any such equivalent feast offered in those private sector establishments in which I have subsequently worked – one of which once had the nerve to offer a “vegetarian” alternative consisting simply of potatoes and gravy.

Hooray for the mid-80s, state-sponsored, municipal-distributed Christmas dinner.