"I was in court once when two Chinese men in blue overalls carrying a ladder pushed their way through the swing doors. They stood at the back of the court and bowed low to Judge Grant-Jones. Always a stickler for politeness he bowed back. Then they padded past the benches to stop underneath the court clock - a product of English craftsmanship that was the pride and joy of the court staff, who were inveterate clockwatchers, particularly when they were dying for a smoke or a cup of tea. The two workmen, for that is what they appeared to be, placed their ladder against the wall. One of them mounted it and carefully unscrewed the clock which he handed to his mate. He descended the ladder and carrying ladder and clock in their arms, the two Chinese walked toward the door. There they stood facing the judge. They bowed low. He bowed in return. They left the court with the clock. It was never seen again. For a barefaced act of skulduggery it had no equal - a clock pinched right under the eyes of a stern British judge, who had sent many to jail for lesser crimes.

Judge Grant-Jones took it in good part. He was heard to remark that if he ever set eyes on the two lads again then he would tell them the time in no uncertain terms - and it wouldn't be in seconds, minutes or hours but years."