Random reminder

Press, 6 August 1976, Page 18

Random reminder

SAVOY OPERAS

There is a story, which seems to have had a sound basis, of an Australian cricket captain removing his trousers during an official dinner at the famous Savoy in London and sending them away to be cleaned after a waiter had spilt soup on them. But the quality of san froid is not restricted to cricketers, or Australians. Not long ago, in Christchurch, the branch manager of a large commercial concern retired. A handsome man, courteous, intelligent, gentle of nature, immensely popular and respected, successful; these were among his attributes. Quick changing of clothes was not. He had rushed home from the office to meet a horde of friends at a hotel for a farewell drink.

He had raced into the house, run into the shower, dressed with great haste because he was late — and he had forgotten to put on a pair of underpants. So he was none too comfortable as he had his drinks and heard the many kind speeches. Eut he was clearly a popular man. One of his friends felt he had to help. So he took off his own underpants and presented them to the guest of the evening, who thrust them in a pocket. Considerably later in the evening — about 10 p.m., the hard core remaining from this farewell function concluded it was time for a meal. They therefore presented themselves, en masse, at one of Christchurch's bestknown restaurants.

The food was excellent, the wine was fine; and our hero was just about through his entree of oysters when he remembered the splendid gesture made earlier by his friend It was, he concluded, an action of the utmost generosity, and one which demanded a proper display of appreciation.

So at this elegant dining place, the retiring but none too shy manager stood up quietly, removed his trousers, put on the borrowed underpants, drew on his trousers again, and resumed his meal, with about as much display of concern as if he had been studying the wine list. The whole operation was conducted with such easy elegance that it went unnoticed. Almost.