Dedication

This book is dedicated to the small number of schoolmasters who, against all odds, actually managed to teach me something. I could say, ‘They know who they are.’ But they don’t. (I was never very good at showing my gratitude to my teachers...) So I’d like to list them here, in alphabetical order: Tim Brandon-White (Latin; housemaster), Tom Brown (English), Michael Goldsworthy (History), Malcolm Innes (English; headmaster), David Oldman (History and Politics) and Nicholas Sudbury (Latin and Greek). Albert Einstein said, ‘I never teach my pupils; I only attempt to provide the conditions in which they can learn.’ All of these fine schoolmasters managed to do just that with me. I thank you all.

Half of the author’s royalties for this book will go to the Charlie Waller Memorial Trust (registered charity number 1109984), a charity which aims to raise awareness of the nature and dangers of depression. Suicide is one of the three leading causes of death for teenagers and young adults under 25, an age group which accounts for almost a quarter of all suicides. I encourage my readers to join me in supporting this important cause. Donations can be made online at www.justgiving.com/charliewaller.