“Unless you have been to a boarding school when you are very young, it is absolutely impossible to appreciate the delights of living at home.

“I could hardly believe that I did not have to wash in cold water in the mornings or keep silent in the corridors, or say Sir to every grown-up man I met, or get flicked with wet towels while naked in the changing room, or eat porridge for breakfast that seemed to be full of little round sheep’s droppings.”

Ted Turner, United States media mogul, attended McCallie School, Tennessee:“I did not want to go off so young. It was like a prison. You couldn’t leave the campus. There was a bell when you got out of bed in the morning and a bell to go to meals, and a bell to go to bed at night.”

Will Young, winner of “Pop Idol” and former pupil at Wellington College, Berkshire:

“I did go to boarding school and I had a brilliant time. You can come out of it narrow minded, but university mellows you out.”

Prince William, who went to Eton College, Windsor: “I’ve enjoyed being in Pop, which is a school prefect. I have always liked the uniform, particularly the Pop one which allows you to wear your own waistcoats, and the stick-ups (stiff wing collar) and tie.”

Sir Terence ConraN, Bryanston, Dorset:

“My boarding was a pleasure, partially because I had a tutor I saw on a regular basis and partially because I had an art master who was my hero and particularly because Bryanston was a friendly, happy school in beautiful countryside near Cranbourne Chase girls school.”

David Suchet, actor, Wellington School, Somerset:

“I hated boarding school and acting was a respite from my misery.”

Douglas Adams, late author, Brentwood School, Essex:

“I thoroughly enjoyed boarding. There is a piece of me that likes to fondly imagine my maverick and rebellious nature. But more accurately I like to have a nice and cosy institution that I can rub up against a little bit.

There is nothing better than a few constraints you can comfortably kick against.”