Ralphie, I'm almost certain that Alfred Williams would not have been able to note music, it's not a skill that all of us possess. Whether or not he felt the tunes were important I don't know.

The one time in my life when I've been made aware of my social status was when I was a student and did some grouse beating in the summer. It was quite obvious that the shooters were well-heeled and wealthy types, and at lunchtime their picnics were extremely lavish affairs while we oiks supped brown ale from bottles in a separate room in the lodge. The thing is, though, that every shooter who ever spoke to me was extremely polite and friendly, and seemed acutely embarrassed by the perceived difference in status between us. Perhaps a key difference was the attitude of Lord Whats-his-name who was an arrogant, braying prick, and his son, who was painfully nice and friendly. I got the distinct impression that the class division was a source of discomfort for many there and was clearly on the wane.