Mueen Nawaz wrote:
>     We were told that in British English, when writing out lists like 
> the above, there should never be a comma before "and". I also hear that 
> this rule is rarely taught anymore...

My understanding is in that case the comma is optional. (I always put it 
there, because I'm a nerd.)  It's required when you have multiple 
conjunctive clauses together:

"The three couple are John and Sally, Fred and Mary, and Bill and Sue."

-- 
Darren New / San Diego, CA, USA (PST)
  Helpful housekeeping hints:
   Check your feather pillows for holes
    before putting them in the washing machine.

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