Back in the bad old days of sweet coupons, not to mention rations for shoes, clothing, sugar and a hundred and one other items of life's essentials (post WWII-approx 1950), a very lean James and one other decided that a visit to one of the local orchards would provide a wonderful supplement to school 'fodder'. School meals were a no-nonsense round of very basic non fattening school foods, supervised by a red headed disciplinarian in the form of a dietician. The word dietician

School boys, especially boarding-school boys, are always hungry, and anything to eat that is free is not overlooked - including forbidden fruits. Even though nature's time had not completed its full cycle, the pear tree to the north of Meister Omers, in the Archdeacon of Maidstone's garden was easily accessible by the ''Dean's Walk''. Along this short passageway a young boy could quickly scurry under cover of darkness and lay bare a small tree laden with these luscious fruits

Beyond the east end of the Cathedral stood a block of monastic buildings, where for several centuries Priors entertained their most notable guests. The only portion still standing is the large hall (or Aula) called Meister Omers, which was built in the 13th Century. The kitchen, at the west end, has the widest fireplace arch in England and Scotland (a single span of 21 feet 8 inches). The huge stones still as solid and unshaken as when they were fitted together over seven cen

Meister Omers may properly be called historic as its strange name has clung to it for nearly 750 years. In 1261 a deed, still in our Cathedral Library, recorded how Prior Roger de St Alphege had taken into custody under his seal a charter, whereby Theobold de Helles granted to Master Omer of Canterbury his lands in the parish of Ash, excepting those in the marsh. Four years later (1265) Master Omer, now described further as ''Son of William de Bordenne'', added to his estate