Collies
Collies are not my favourite dogs, but they are impressive workers. My first teaching job was in Stanford-in-the-Vale, in the Vale of the White Horse, home of Pam Ayres, whose poems have always amused me.
The headteacher of the primary school was Joan Perkins. Her husband was a lecturer at the Royal Military College of Science, Shrivenham, where Barry was studying electrical engineering.
Joan was a charming woman, very pleasant, and tall. At one time, she had a collie which used to herd the children to school. He also used to accompany her to church, where he would sit quietly and attentively, until the vicar began his sermon, at which point he would discreetly exit the building.
