It has been over 40 years now, but I still remember my school uniform clearly. Its funny how some things stick with you despite the passage of time.

My New Uniform

I remember going to the store with mam to buy my new school uniform. Not perhaps not as vividly as my final visit. Both occasions were miserable for me at the time, the last, because I really thought I might get some long trousers, the second because I was being put back into short pants after thinking I had outgrown them.

My new shorts

This first event was probably the worst, even though I was younger, because I had not worn shorts for some time and I can certainly recall trying them on in the shop. It was really horrible when I put my legs in only to see them reappear from the other end! I can remember my Mam and the assistant viewing me from all angles deciding what they looked like. They should have asked me; I knew what I looked like! Although I am not so certain about this, I feel they were on the big side, my Mam being of the "he's growing so quick, they'll soon fit" brigade. More than one pair was bought, plus some khaki shorts. Back home over the next few days I dreaded the start of my new school when I would have to venture out in these pants, made worse by the fact, that I still possessed more than one or two pairs of old longs. I was not allowed to wear these once I went back to short trousers, except, to play in during winter, just to wear them out I suppose.

Rugby shirts

Incidentally, from your expanded site I was very interested reading about grey school "rugby style" shirts, which I also wore, but had forgotten about. Mine, again, were undoubtedly hand downs from my brother. They were grey and a very thick, itchy material. Ugh!!

School Regulations

My Secondary Modern generally speaking was not real strict about the uniform, black blazer and their own badge,any shirt, black and grey tie and, grey trousers. My form were only required to be similar to the Grammar in one aspect ... those awful short trousers!

The only aspect of the school uniform that my school was really strict about was the shorts for our pants. I think this is because it was the headmaster at the Grammar School insisted. We used the facilities at the Grammar, thus my school more or less had to conform to the regulations there. I don't know the details, but I believe that is the situation.

The school was fairly rigid regarding some aspects of uniform. Blazers with school badge were definitely required and, you had to wear your school tie, but what happened if you did not I cannot recall. Some boys in my school did not comply, as I can remember individuals in 'ordinary' clothes, but looking back, I suspect this was because of financial constraints. It would be certainly the case that some of my generation was poor enough not to be able to afford new clothes. (In junior school, when I was about 10, I can remember one boy coming to school with no underwear or coat during winter months.) I do not know what happened in these circumstances. However, I cannot recall seeing any Grammar boys without uniform, a good indicvator of their better circumstances in life.

Reason

Again, I do not know who's idea it was that our form had to wear short pants like the Grammar boys (but if I ever find out…..) I suspect that as we shared some of their school facilities they did not want any contention about uniform. May be it was just a courtesy to the Grammar authorities. I would say that it was a general feeling amongst all us boys, Grammar and M forms, that short trousers were undesirable. I cannot recall one boy who liked wearing shorts. I must admit when I first went into longs I did find them uncomfortable and irritating, but they made you look grown up, so you suffered in silence. Interestingly, HBC supports this general unpopularity regarding this fashion; short pants appear almost universally disliked, at least by the wearers of my generation.

Created: April 20, 1999
Last updated: May 10, 1999