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I go along with Anon@17:06. There have always been discourteous and rude judges, but very much the exception, rather than the rule. It worried me a bit when I first started (in 1979) but I have to say I fairly quickly put it down to the individual judge's inadequacy for the role. On occasion, it was my error (particularly in the early days - training in those days as no great shakes - you learned by trial and error) but I took the view that there was little need to be rude about it.

This has improved markedly - far fewer judges are discourteous, although perhaps it is just as one gets more experienced they are less likely to have a go. It might also be better if none were....

I will say with reference to the remarks by Anon@15:38 that discourtesy is by no means limited to the public school product, with whom the bench is less full than it may have been.