I hated maths, arithmetic, or anything to do with numbers. It was the only subject that brought me out in a cold sweat. It’s ironic then that I ended up working in finance. Apart from maths, I was pretty good at everything else, though Art, History and English being my particular favourites. There were a couple of primary school teachers who were quite cruel with really vicious tempers. I remember one incident when I was eight and in old Mrs Mellings class. She must have been in her eighties, and was a vicious and nasty old git who should have been pensioned off years before. One day Helen Parks who had asked permission three times to go the toilet, only to be denied, the fourth time she approached Mrs Nasty and was told once again to go back to her seat, the poor girl burst into tears and stood in front of the class sobbing, as the pee collected in a pool at her feet. I remember feeling so sorry for her, and strangely, no-one ever spoke about it. I’m sure we were thinking that could have happened to any one of us. I’ve never forgotten it, and you can be sure Helen Parkes hasn’t either.