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Rat race
13th October 1978, Page 99
13th October 1978
Page 99
Page 99, 13th October 1978
— Rat race
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My earlier mention of rats reminds me of a London hotel used for meetings by the Long Distance Road Haulage Association in the early thirties. I remember particularly a dinner given by a trade association (the furniture removers, I think) on a Saturday.
The chairman had begun his speech of welcome to the guests when a large hairy rat, disturbed in an anteroom, dashed through the open door into the dining room, took a flying leap on to the long top table and set off like one possessed down the finishing straight. Women squealed and jumped on to their chairs.
The chairman glanced down at the rat as it flashed past him, heading for the safety of heavy velvet curtains, and didn't miss a syllable of a well-rehearsed speech.