An hotel, a parson's daughter and a light-fingered lecturer

Many years ago I was invited to the wedding of the daughter of the Vicar of Tysoe, a kind, gentle soul who was the epitome of the country parson. His daughter worked for a local newspaper. The wedding service was conducted by the Bishop of Coventry and then we all retired to the Welcombe Hotel in Stratford-upon-Avon for the reception, followed by a trip into the town led by the groom's father. What happened then is somewhat hazy but we made it back to the hotel in time for breakfast.

A few years later I was employed as a lecturer and one of my colleagues was a character: Rex Blaker. Rex unfortunately came to a premature end when he was killed in his home. Rex was well-known in some circles as a collector of George Formby's ukuleles. He had also a penchant for railway memorabilia.

It is this latter interest which takes me back to the Welcombe Hotel, a very grand place on a par with Gleneagles. The hotel was built by the Great Western Railway and was owned and managed by British Railways until sold off by Margaret Thatcher.

According to Rex, he was in the cocktail bar munching nuts and as the nuts disappeared the letters 'G W R' appeared on the silver tray from whence they came. The nuts were devoured and the tray slipped into Rex's briefcase. Naughty.

As he was leaving the hotel he was accosted by the cocktail waiter and frog-marched into the manager's office soon to be joined by the hotel's security manager. The tray was taken from the briefcase and displayed on the manager's desk. Then there was talk of calling the police.

At this juncture Rex piped up and said: 'Congratulations, you have passed the test I set you'.

'Test, what test?' was the puzzled response of the forces arrayed against Rex.

'Well gentlemen' replied Rex: 'It is heartening and reassuring to know that state employees still have a pride in their work and seek to protect public property. You have passed my test. I shall write to the Chairman of the British Railways Board commending each and every one of you on your devotion to duty'.

And with that Rex snapped shut his briefcase and marched out of the hotel.