Letter : Outrage on the river
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Sir: Today (18 August), on the river at Oxford, I witnessed an altercation. A woman punter had been propelled into the water by an ungentlemanly thrust from another boat. Refined voices were raised in anger:
She: You rammed into me when I was quite stationary beneath that willow!
He: Madam, I did not ram you, I was merely bumping gently!
She (dripping on the bank): Well, I think you should jolly well jump in and get wet yourself!
We glided past along the peaceful stream, so I do not know how this exchange ended, but I claim it as the first recorded case of Punt Rage.
JANE JAKEMAN
Oxford
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