THE recent correspondence about hats and heads (Letters, December 11, 12, 13, 14 & 17) reminded me of the time I was conscripted into the RAF in the early 1950s. At Padgate, along with a gaggle of new National Servicemen, I was marched to a large hangar for kitting out. At a long counter brown-coated civilians were dispensing the various bits of kit.
When we reached the berets a lad from Orkney with a large head was in front of me. The man behind the counter asked about size but got no reply. He then proceeded to throw different and ever-bigger berets without success. Finally, he walked all the way across the huge hangar and rummaged in a kitbag, returning with two very large hats, commenting to his neighbour: "If these don't fit he'll have to go home!" Fortunately, they fitted.
James Lynch,
17 Craigiebar Drive, Paisley.
MY thanks to Allan C Steele (Letters, December 17) for the memories created with reference to Attaboy hats. I am of an age when clothes shops of yore were not complete without an advertising mannequin for Attaboy hats. This was the figure of a wee man with a big head on which was placed a hat. Surely this could not be applied to the Scottish Secretary.
Alan Barlow,
22 Aboyne Drive, Paisley
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