We were invited for a ‘sports weekend’ at Dartmouth during the summerterm of my first year. We played against the Dartmouth teams and were thoroughly trounced. On my return to London, I received a note from the University Training Officer’:
1. Hair.
2. Reasons in writing by return.
What on earth? I consulted the ‘how to get by’ guide, and discovered the marvel that was the Formal Letter. These formal letters were required at specific times (like on appointment to a new ship or establishment), or they could be required as punishment, when you might be asked to present your ‘reasons, in writing’. Ah, all was explained. My hair had been of an unacceptable length, and I was required to write a formal letter. The Guide had all the details I needed, so I wrote:
Sir,
I regret to inform you of my reasons, in writing, for having hair of an unacceptable length when I visited Dartmouth on. … etc., etc., etc.,
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your Obedient Servant,
(etc).
I didn’t hear back, so that was probably OK.