hard for young people to differentiate
between formal and familiar situations.”
The course isn’t all about being logged
on, however. Posture, presentation and
formal dinners form part of the
prog ramme.
Ruell leads me to a vast mahogany hall,
the “deportment gallery”, in which a
white line has been taped to the carpet.
Wobbling, I parade up and down, only
to be told that my right shoulder is
hunched and my left arm swings too
m u ch .
Stairs, on which I’m told to angle my
feet inwards, prove unexpectedly difficult.
“Keep moving,” urges Ruell. “That’s what
the Duchess of Cambridge does — she
glides. It’s when you pause or falter that
you look awkward.”
Ruell insists the courses are aimed at
young people from all backgrounds.
“It’s equally common for someone to
need help to increase their confidence as
it is for someone who is overconfident
because they’re from a privileged
backg round.”
De brett’s pledges to create
“better employees” from its
courses. “It will make young
people more socially
intelligent, more effective at
what they do and more
enjoyable to work with,” says
Ru e l l .
“We know they’re not
likely to use these skills
down the pub on a
Friday night, but
hopefully by the end of
the course they’ll have
learnt something…”
Bzzz. Bzzz. Bing!
“Sorr y,” I interrupt,
“that’s my BlackBerry. Do
you mind if I get it?”
— © Sarah Rainey, The
Daily Telegraph
WALDO SWIEGERS
MANNERS FOR MINORS: Shannon
Burnett of Etiquette Renaissance
WALDO SWIEGERS
THE IMPORTANCE OF
POSTURE: Sharon and
Courtenay Carey at Le
Chatelat Residence in
Sandhurst
PHUBBING
IS A NO-NO
MEANWHILE, IN THE LAND OF DOWNTON ABBEY …
SILENT PLEASE:
Maggie Smith as
Violet Crawley
would surely agree
that cellphones
encourage r udeness