[Leonard Ellisdon sang in Church choirs from the age of ten until a stroke in 1957 disabled him].

Many amusing incidents occurred during these years, far too numerous for me to remember, but a few I do recall might be worth mentioning. I do know that on occasions I have felt really ill with trying not to laugh.

[…]

[When I was a boy] we rehearsed an anthem which concluded with three Hallelujahs, each one followed by one bar’s tootle on the organ. The boys at rehearsal put words, sotto voice, to these tootles, viz. “Skin a donkey”. I was still very young and simply sang from memory and had grown accustomed to the boys’ version, so that when the Sunday evening arrived and the anthem was performed, after the first Hallelujah, I in all innocence I assure you, continued with “Skin a donkey” to the amazement of the congregation and the amusement of the choir, including some of the men. I don’t think anyone was capable of singing the remaining few bars.