spotted dickheads
SPOTTED Dick has been banned from a staff canteen for being "too rude" - and replaced by Spotted Richard.
Bashful council bosses renamed the classic British pudding over fears that its comical title could cause offence.
They stepped in after staff complained that diners had been making smutty comments about the dish.
But steaming fans of the suet and currant-based treat yesterday roasted "prudish" council chiefs.
Peter Henderson, chairman of the Pudding Club, said: "This is absolutely ridiculous. The name Spotted Dick is completely harmless and it's been part of the English language for years.
"If we remove every last trace of humour from the workplace we might as well go around with our mouths zipped up from nine to five.
"What fun would that be? This is just change for the sake of it."
The "you couldn't bake it up" ban came to light as councillor Klaus Armstrong-Braun, top right, queued for lunch at the offices of Flintshire County Council in Mold, North Wales.
He said: "There was a sign in the dining room for things like rice pudding, and then I saw this 'Spotted Richard' on it. I had to ask what it was. I couldn't believe it when they told me - it seemed ludicrous. Spotted Dick is part of our heritage.
"People make silly comments about everything in life. There is no need to change the name over it."
Spotted Dick is thought to have originated in the middle of the 19th century.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest recorded reference was a recipe for "Plum Bolster or Spotted Dick" in 1850 book The Modern Housewife of Menagere.
The "spotted" part of the name refers to the currants, which resemble spots, while "dick" is believed to derive either from the word dough or to be a corruption from the last syllable of the word pudding.
Flintshire County Council last night confirmed the dish had been renamed in its canteen.
A spokesman said: "The correct title for this dish is Spotted Dick.
However, because of several immature comments from a few customers, catering staff renamed the dish Spotted Richard or Sultana Sponge.
"This was not a policy decision. Canteen staff simply acted as they thought best to put an end to unwelcome and childish comments - albeit from a very small number of customers."
SPOTTED Dick has been banned from a staff canteen for being "too rude" - and replaced by Spotted Richard.
Bashful council bosses renamed the classic British pudding over fears that its comical title could cause offence.
They stepped in after staff complained that diners had been making smutty comments about the dish.
But steaming fans of the suet and currant-based treat yesterday roasted "prudish" council chiefs.
Peter Henderson, chairman of the Pudding Club, said: "This is absolutely ridiculous. The name Spotted Dick is completely harmless and it's been part of the English language for years.
"If we remove every last trace of humour from the workplace we might as well go around with our mouths zipped up from nine to five.
"What fun would that be? This is just change for the sake of it."
The "you couldn't bake it up" ban came to light as councillor Klaus Armstrong-Braun, top right, queued for lunch at the offices of Flintshire County Council in Mold, North Wales.
He said: "There was a sign in the dining room for things like rice pudding, and then I saw this 'Spotted Richard' on it. I had to ask what it was. I couldn't believe it when they told me - it seemed ludicrous. Spotted Dick is part of our heritage.
"People make silly comments about everything in life. There is no need to change the name over it."
Spotted Dick is thought to have originated in the middle of the 19th century.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the earliest recorded reference was a recipe for "Plum Bolster or Spotted Dick" in 1850 book The Modern Housewife of Menagere.
The "spotted" part of the name refers to the currants, which resemble spots, while "dick" is believed to derive either from the word dough or to be a corruption from the last syllable of the word pudding.
Flintshire County Council last night confirmed the dish had been renamed in its canteen.
A spokesman said: "The correct title for this dish is Spotted Dick.
However, because of several immature comments from a few customers, catering staff renamed the dish Spotted Richard or Sultana Sponge.
"This was not a policy decision. Canteen staff simply acted as they thought best to put an end to unwelcome and childish comments - albeit from a very small number of customers."
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