Canon Sawyer of Shrewsbury
Sun,--Derek Hudson's happy reference to Canon H. A. P. Sawyer will delight all old Salopians who remember " his humour, his absent- mindedness, his benevolence and sense of justice." Of his absent- mindedness there were countless stories: most of them, I suspect, were apochryphal, but the following, which is true, does seem to illustrate the qualities claimed for him by Derek Hudson.
One summer term School House was given for breakfast some kedgeree which acted upon us in an immediate and unexpected way. All were affected in some degree and many were prostrate. When we had sufficiently recovered, a few days later, we were summoned into Hall to receive Canon Sawyer's apology. " I cannot understand how this has occurred," he began. " We are very careful with the food this hot weather, and it is stored in a cool dark place to keep the sun off it by day and by night " As the laughter grew in volume, Canon Sawyer stood before us, smiling and baffled, conscious that he had said something funny and possibly ridiculous and anxious to join in our merriment if only he could have the point of the joke explained to
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