I did quite a lot of naughty things as a child, but one stands out and it earned me my first visit to the Headmistress at school

I went to a primary and middle school that took 5 year olds up to 12 year olds. We used to go to lunch in two groups - younger kids , ( me, 6 at the time) & older kids. One day in assembly the Headmistress warned that some kids had been putting salt all over other kids food at lunch - ruining it. This would not be tolerated and any one caught would be punished. This, it seemed, had been happening at the older kids lunch.

Goodness knows why... but that day at lunch I unscrewed the top from the salt shaker, and tipped the lot over the boy sat next to me's food. Turning it from barely edible to definitely not edible. No mistake who was responsible. Had we not been told about this in the assembly it would never have occurred to me.

After lunch we went to the playground and I was a hero, older kids coming up, impressed with my daring! All was well until the end of play bell went, and I was summoned for my visit to Mrs Jones - the Head. What had she said would happen to anyone who put salt on another's food? Punished.

This was 1975. Teachers used Corporal Punishment. The horror of the situation dawned on me pretty quickly, and the tears started streaming. Not deterred Mrs Jones quickly dished out two almighty whacks across my behind with a wooden ruler.