Braced to make a big impression

DURING the early Seventies, I worked for British Olivetti in Central London. One Friday, Dennis, a technical manager, arrived at the office in a brand new mohair suit. He explained that he and his wife were flying off on holiday and he was meeting her straight after work, to go to the airport. Then, disaster struck. Dennis caught his trouser leg on the corner of a metal desk. It left a little — but very noticeable — rip. He was distraught. How could he go on holiday with torn trousers? A colleague came to the rescue. He offered to take the trousers to a tailor who did invisible mending. He rang the tailor who said he could do the repair. The only problem was that Dennis couldn’t take his trousers off without something to cover him up. As luck would have it, the security guard in the foyer had a couple of spare navy blue uniforms and agreed to lend Dennis some trousers. Unfortunately, Dennis was tall and slim and the doorman was short and rather rotund. Awkwardly for Dennis, he had to attend a meeting with the boss that morning, so couldn’t keep a low profile. We were all assembled in the meeting room when in walked Dennis, wearing braces, holding up large-waisted trousers that were 6in too short. The boss, who didn’t know the story, looked bemused. The rest of us fell about with laughter and even Dennis joined in. The boss was soon filled in and we tried to have a serious meeting, while Dennis resembled a clown. There was a happy ending. The trousers came back invisibly mended and Dennis got away on holiday.

Don Townshend, Chelmsford, Essex.