Illiterate chairman

The chairman of a Welsh education committee was so illiterate he couldn't read even the clearest handwriting.

On one occasion he was given a letter by a messenger who noticed that, after opening it, the councillor was holding it upside down and scanning it.

"If I may say so Alderman Jones," said the messenger, meekly, "you're holding that letter the wrong way up."

The Alderman replied with indignation

"Do you think I could have obtained my present position as chairman of the education committee if I couldn't read a letter with any side up whatsoever?"