Mr Brittas...
This is fo'real.

The guy that wrote The Brittas Empire used to be a teacher at my school. A pretty run of the mill mixed state comp in leafy Berkshire.

Since leaving the school to become a comic writer he has returned for numerous events and makes no effort to hide the fact that he based the Mr Brittas character on a physics teacher at our school called Mr Barnes.

Mr Barnes taught me A level physics (the hardest a level known to man). It probably didn't help that this guy would have us in stitches all lesson, without even trying. He collects mining gas lamps, and has his own bar in his basement where he proudly displays all these. I remember he realised there wasn't a word for a collection of gas mining lamps, so he created the word "imflammatory", which he was very proud of.

He would always wear a suit at school, and without fail have a matching hankerchief to his socks.

Another anecdote i remember is when he invited the new headmaster around for 'an informal introductory' dinner one evening (Mr Barnes was deputy), to which the headmaster turned up in classic smart casual attire to find Mr Barnes open the door in a full tuxedo.
(oller, Fri 11 Nov 2005, 11:48, Reply)