Echoes of Flashman, the school bully (From York Press)

Echoes of Flashman, the school bully

10:08am Friday 28th September 2012 in Letters By Reader's letter

HAVING read the novel Tom Brown’s Schooldays during my formative years many times and viewed the black and white version starring the late Robert Newton as the headmaster of Rugby School, I revelled in the eventual downfall of Flashman the school bully, which was to fortify me in later life when having to contend with many arrogant and pompous members of the so-called elite in my professional career.

Recent revelations of the Tory Chief Whip Andrew Mitchell’s conduct towards police officers employed to ensure ministers’ safety as their main objective both within the seat of power and also in their private life has to be viewed with disdain.

The fundamental words of advice whilst studying at police college still ring in my ears. “Idle and silly remarks are unworthy of notice”, although in this case of ministerial behaviour I would draw the line and arrest the offender for insulting words and behaviour and allow the plebs and morons of a jury to decide his fate. After all, they pay his wages.

Kenneth Bowker, Vesper Walk, Huntington , York.