Visit to Epsom Circle this week

The fact that we are visiting Epsom Circle later this week has revived memories of my schooldays in Epsom in the fifties.

One thing I remember is being told the story of the arms of Epsom by one of my masters. Before the war, a public competition was held to design a coat of arms for Epsom Council. The master in those days was a young man rather more irreverent than he had since become, so he decided to design a joke coat of arms and submit it to the competition.

"People have only ever heard of Epsom for three reasons," he said to himself. "Epsom races, Epsom Downs and Epsom salts. And nothing has ever happened in Epsom, except that Henry VIII built Nonsuch palace there, which got knocked down centuries ago".

So he designed a shield with horses on Epsom Downs over Epsom salts being swirled around in water, and added a satirical motto "None Such".

Of course he won the competition. Joke on him!