But suddenly, it is not just Anglophiles who want to wear Burberry checks, Harris tweeds Testimonials and prim little twinsets Conservative handbag and glove dressing is in vogue. They are synonymous with quality and a certain Englishness that is the key to their success abroad. The Japanese en will go to en any lengths for a traditional Testimonials Burberrys raincoat or checked trousers. In times of financial difficulty, an en Testimonials umbrella, or just a handkerchief, will do, while the Italians search out conservative preppy styles that are the antithesis en of their own brand of glitz and glamour. The companies that make en Testimonials British classics have a Testimonials whole heritage of traditional textiles, prints and fabrics to play with.

Labels like Burberrys and Aquascutum that we tend to take for granted and forget about. The labels that have been quietly dressing British women for decades have acquired cult status in other countries. Pupils must learn two instruments; piano is compulsory.The rest of the morning is spent in choir practice. In the afternoon they have academic lessons and sport before preparing for evensong.. The Italians and French imitate it The Japanese come to London by the planeload for it The Americans adore it But only we have it: the British style. Thirty minutes later they are at their first instrumental practice of the day. It costs about £12,000 to put a chorister through a year's tuition.

Pupils are expected to pay fees of about £2,550 a year, with the remainder made up from donations left at the abbey. The boys, aged between nine and 13, lead a rigorous existence They wake at 6.55am and have breakfast at 7.15am. For further information, contact: Arthur Whillock, Walnut Bank, Underhill, Moulsford, Oxford OX10 9JH.. After a nine-month refurbishment costing more than £1m, the Westminster Abbey Choir School is back in business The school has about 38 choristers in each year. With the latest Statutory Instruments threatening to ban all Imperial measures from 1 Jan 2000, the Dozenals see themselves as a bastion of common sense, retaining the pint, acre and troy ounce that have served us so well."Measurement of the people, by the people, for the people" is how Arthur Whillock of the Dozenal Society expresses their current aims. The "decimal transmogrifiers" are, they say, even having a go at the 12-hour clock and 60-second minute with plans to devalue the second to 0.864 of its present length, just to ensure a 100,000-second day.The Dozenal Society produces a once-yearly journal, and the subscription is £4 The present membership is "about a gross". We are now losing the 1,760-yard mile in favour of the decimal kilometre.