To play 'conkers' each kid has a horse chestnut (a conker) a hole is drilled through from to to bottom and a length of string threaded through the hole. The first kid holds up his conker suspended on the string. The second kid swings his conker aimed at the first kids conker and (with luck) hits the first kids conker. Then the positions are reversed and the first kid gets to swing at the second kids conker. They carry on like this, each hitting the other's conker, until one of the conkers is destroyed. The surviving conker then gains a point and becomes 'a one-er'.

During the season the game is played by everyone in the school and kids who own the highest scoring conker gain great esteem.

Due to the intense competition, cheating is rife, and unsrupulous kids resort to devious methids (such as baking) to impart additional strenght to their conkers.

Bert