Silver Acetylide

. . .

I enjoyed reading your memoirs which seemed pretty accurate to me . . . but then there is no reason to suppose we are losing brain cells at different rates.

Did you omit the particularly Chemistry-oriented recollections to save Mike’s reputation?

I seem to remember it was silver acetylide that we ignited in the downstairs Chemistry lab? I can remember the bang. The windows shook and it was a miracle no glass fell out. We all sat there stunned and every science teacher in the block came running . . . .

Of course I was sensitive to loud noises ever since Mr Wombwell’s preparation of acetic acid went wrong. I wasn’t paying attention . . . probably looking at some female legs (in the hope of seeing some suspender). Everyone else saw what was coming and took evasive action. I was sitting at the back . . . heard the bang and turned round to get the tail-end of a stream of boiling chromic acid in the face . . . Mother thought I was blind in both eyes . . . .

Rob Hallam

[Mike Robinson was our chemistry teacher at BGS. Rob also indicated his intention to pick up a copy of Mike’s Bilborough 1957-2000: Portrait of a College. -jm]