At an international eisteddfod, it was customary for one representative of each of the competing countries to be present on the platform at the opening ceremony.

Half an hour before it was due to start, the organising committee were horrified to find out that there was no representative of England present.

Looking desperately round the field, the chairman saw a man at the edge of the crowd who looked like a typrical Englishman and ran up to him to explain the situation.

The stranger listened and then replied in a strong Welsh accent, 'I'm sorry, I can't help you. I'm not English at all. I was sick on the bus getting here.'