I went to Exbury primary school in the early 1950s. Each lunchtime we were marched out of school, rain or shine, to the WI hut, several hundred yards away, for our school dinners. They arrived from somewhere - possibly from some bigger school in the area, in stainless steel containers, and the food was ladled out by the dinner ladies - mothers of a couple of the children.

There was no choice of meal - not even "take it or leave it" - as the dragon lady would appear at your elbow insisting that you ate it all.

Can you imagine that being acceptable nowadays? They'd have to provide vegetarian and vegan options, plus halal and kosher, plus all special options to accommodate the latest fads for lactose intolerance and nut allergies.

Yes, school dinners are fine to remember fondly - except the notorious Irish stew which was the only time it ever was permitted to reject eating the complete meal - but these days one can quite understand why they are not so popular.

Roger Baker, Blackfield.