The Black Shorts

Down at the Old Mill on the outskirts of Much-Piddling, Spode's Black Shorts are having a clandestine meeting. Well about as clandestine as you can get with red armbands and footer-bags! Spode's latest policy is to ensure that every citizen at birth be given a British–made bicycle and umbrella.

L-R:  Lord Haw-Haw (awaiting flag), Unity Valkyrie Mitford, Sir Roderick Spode (Lord Sidcup), Diana Mitford, Sir Osbert Molesworth.

Spode has chosen black shorts (or skirts) for his followers because, as Gussie Finknottle says, "by the time Spode formed his association, there were no shirts left".

Bertie Wooster has some choice words to say about Spode and his Black Shorts "It is about time, that some public-spirited person came along and told you where you got off. The trouble with you, Spode, is that just because you have succeeded in inducing a handful of half-wits to disfigure the London scene by going about in black shorts, you think you're someone. You hear them shouting 'Heil, Spode!' and you imagine it is the Voice of the People. That is where you make your bloomer. What the Voice of the People is saying is: 'Look at that frightful ass Spode swanking about in footer bags! Did you ever in your puff see such a perfect perisher?'"